Ogun youths recount shocking tales of enslavement by foreign firm By Daud Olatunji ABEOKUTA- The expression of frustration and anguish was what wroth the faces of over 100 youths, who recently stormed the Secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, in Oke-Ilewo Abeokuta, Ogun State, to protest their alleged enslavement by their employers, mainly foreigners. The youths between the ages of 20 and 30, said they came to seek the help of the media over their plights, lamenting that several of their colleagues have lost their limbs and lives, while operating heavy duty machines, at their work places, mostly construction sites. According to them, they have become victims of explosion which occurred within the premises of the companies they work. And when their colleagues suffer serious injury or die, during the course of operations, the companies established by foreigners in their fatherland, usually abandon them to their fate. Expectedly, after listening to their pathetic story which they attributed to the lack of ‘decent jobs’, in the country, which left them to opt for the available dangerous jobs, members of the state NUJ resolved to assist them make known their plights to the authorities. In a related development, the aggrieved workers staged a protest in the front of Indian-owned Midland Rolling Mills Limited, located at Kilometre 10, Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway, of the Abeokuta North Local Government, of the state. Medical benefit  The irate youths who carried placards with various inscriptions such as: “Implement night allowance,” “Implement agreement for annual increment,” “Implement sustenance of medical benefit due to industrial hazard,” among others, however vowed to continue the disruption of work, unless their demands were met. *Akinola Asiwaju who lost his four fingers to a cutting machine during the construction of a bridge at Itoku market… The workers who also alleged that the company did not allow them to form a union, which could represent their interest. This according to them had subjected many of them to casual workers for upward of four years, even as their salaries and allowances have not been increased over this period.. Spokesman for the aggrieved workers, Olawale Joe, said for four years they had endured the inhuman treatment in the company, which manufactures cold rolled steel coils. He said: “The protest is peaceful. All we want from the management are basically salary increment, because we have been working for several years without any increment, we want bonuses and payment of night allowance since we do night shifts. “We also demand the regularisation of employment for those of us who have been working as casual workers for some years, paid between N3,000 and N4,000. Some us are exposed to smoke from acid, we need prompt and regular medical check up. Apart from these, we need to be taken milk regularly to neutralise the effect. “Severally, we have spoken to the management concerning our plight but up to this moment nothing has been done.” Reacting to the allegation, the management of the company said they would look into the grievances and address the demands of the workers within two weeks. The General Manager, Bibhas Bhanjdeo, an Indian, said the company was undergoing some challenges, which include drop in sales. He however, pledged to meet their demands within a short period. However, last month, no fewer than seven workers lost their lives during an industrial accident in Phoenix Steel Mills Limited, Ogijo-Remo, Ogun State. Vanguard gathered that the melting machine was over loaded with input that added extra pressure beyond its melting point, forcing the substance from the furnace to splash on the workers at the platform. According to an eyewitness, the victims, who were writhing in pains, were immediately rushed to a private hospital at Ikorodu in Lagos, though they were still talking. These workers it was learnt were referred to a specialist hospital in Lagos, but due to complications, they lost their lives. Another incident occurred on Monday November 17,2014, when a labourer with Chinese Civil Construction Engineering Company, Oyebola Adeolu fell down from an uncompleted flyover at Iyana Mortuary in Abeokuta and sustained injury in the back, hands and legs. The victim who was said to be working as a carpenter with the company suddenly lost a grip while working on the bridge and fell down. He was quickly rushed to the state hospital where he was being treated. When our correspondent visited the hospital, at Ijaiye, Adeolu was seen being wheeled into the theatre where an X-ray was to be done on him. Shortly before the x-ray, the victim who was a contract staff said he could not say the extent of the injury until the result of the x-ray come out. Also, a pathetic story narrated by a 27-year-old Akinola Asiwaju who claimed to be a casual worker of CCCEC in Abeokuta at the carpentry section. Akinola had lost his four fingers to a cutting machine during the construction of a bridge at Itoku market. According to him, “I lost my four fingers on October 5.2013 when I was working on the Itoku bridge. On that fateful day, I had finished my work, but, my immediate boss asked me to help one Matthew to cut a wood and in the process, the cutting machine pinned down my hand and severed four fingers. “I was rushed to a private hospital, but, the hospital rejected me because of the extent of the damage. I was later taken to a state hospital in Ijaye by the company but, I was abandoned there. “The company did not check on me, it only sent one of the company nurses who brought N3,000 to pay for my cards and some small expenses. But after that, nobody showed up again until I discharged myself. “After I discharged myself, I went back to the company but, later in February this year, I was sacked because I reported them to a human rights group. “Since then, I have been jobless. When I went to work at a small company that produces sachet water, I was rejected because of my hand. “I have been rendered jobless and I am just sitting at home doing nothing because of my hand. I have sought for a lawyer’s assistance to help me because I have not been compensated. I want justice. I demand for N10 million,” he said. When contacted, a man identified as Personnel Manager described the allegation levelled against the company as a blatant lie. He said the company has never been negligent or lackadaisical with its workers lives, saying, when the recent incident occurred the company quickly rushed the victim to the state hospital. According to him, “when the issue occurred, we took him to the state hospital. but, Asiwaju didn’t allow the company to treat him. Although, the company paid him four months salaries while he was absent from work. We asked him to go home and rest, but, when he came back to the company, he was just doing what he wants, he would come one day and absent the other days. Court service “He arranged lawyers to fight the company. When he was asked what he wants he said he wants those fingers back and the next thing he served us court service. “He did not lose four fingers. He lost only one finger and he has refused to come for treatment,” he said . It was also gathered that some workers with a telecommunication outfit in Abeokuta are suffering from ear and eye impairments. Vanguard gathered that, some of them have been having serious complaints on their eyes and ears following the long hours they spent on the system. One of the victims, who claimed that she had lost her ear drum and could not hear a word unless with hearing aid said “I can not get work anywhere because of this problem.” Attempt to get reactions from the company was unsuccessful as some of its officials referred our correspondent to the Managing Director, who they said was not around.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 07:04:24 +0000
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