.As strike enters day 4Nkemdi Kanu
Despite the meeting expected to hold on Thursday (today), with the Lagos state governor, Sanwo Olu, the total blockade of the headquarter premises of the Lagos state water corporation, Ijora as a result of the strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Lagos Chapter has entered its day 4 with the Union vowing not to rescind its pronouncement until all demands are met.
The Niche gathered that Labour and all its affiliate in the struggle have been invited by Sanwo Olu to a meeting at the government house, Alausa, by 4.00pm today.
But the activists who spoke with The Niche said they were not excited over the meeting as they were not convinced the governor would respond to all their demands.
They said “action will be on-going at the premises of Lagos State Water Corporation even as the meeting will be going on with the governor. We will not stop this protest until we are sure everything is settled”.
AUPCTRE, Secretary General, comrade Biodun Bakare said there was no going back in the struggle unless all the issues are properly addressed”.
He said the workers of LSWC has tolerated enough with its management and would not stop the remonstration unless all demands are met.
The aggrieved activist said that the leadership of Badmus has introduced hardship and lacks capacity to turn things around for the good of the workers, stressing that the continued stay of Mumuni in office would no longer acceptable as he has shown that he is unfit for the position”.
It would be recalled that the picketing exercise started as early as 7.00 am on Monday with the NLC and all its affiliate workers blocking the entrance gates with their vehicles, as no person was allowed to get inside for any operation.
The police were also stationed at the site of the protest so as to keep the peace should the exercise get out of hand but it was well organised and peaceful.
Over 20 affiliate unions of the NLC were present including: Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), MEDICAL AND Health Workers, National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, NUT, Maritime workers Employee, Food and Nutrition workers, and NULGE, among others.
The reason for the picketing according to the NLC includes: corrupt practices by the management of the corporation under the leadership of Mumuni Badmus, neglect of the welfare of the workers, supply of water which still remain epileptic for no good reason, as well as management advocacy to privatize the corporation.
Carrying placards with inscriptions “Governor Babajide Sanwoolu please save LSWC from total collapse and mismanagement of Mumuni Badmus and Bright Oridami grips”, “All Uganda contracts are scam: Tracecorp 450,000 dollars, 2ML 800,000dollars, all for private gain”, “Osun River Basin financial grants diverted for private gain”, “EFCC needs to investigate activities of Mumuni Badmus since 2015” among others, the protesters said they were not leaving the premises until their demands are met.