Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has strongly criticized the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) management’s handling of the recent disengagement of 391 workers, denouncing it as deceitful propaganda.
In response to a statement by LWC Managing Director, Engr. Mukhtar Temitope Tijani, claiming that the corporation had ensured the affected workers received their entitlements with empathy, CAPPA dismissed this as an attempt to distort the truth and mock the workers’ plight.
CAPPA emphasized that the LWC’s decision to terminate the workers, purportedly due to redundancy, violated due process and is actively being challenged by affected workers and their respective unions. They cited legal provisions, including the Nigerian Labour Act 2004 and the Lagos State Water Corporation Rules 2011, which mandate proper procedures and entitlements for redundant workers.
Despite the LWC’s claims of providing redundancy payments, CAPPA asserted that this was merely a performative action to undermine workers’ unity, as evidenced by the workers’ subsequent protest and submission of a petition to the Lagos State House of Assembly.
CAPPA called on the Lagos State Government to halt the dismissals and engage in sincere dialogue with the affected workers and their unions. They urged an investigation into mismanaged contracts and rejected any plans for privatizing the state’s water supply, citing potential negative consequences for consumers and public welfare.
Furthermore, CAPPA demanded transparency regarding non-disclosure agreements concerning water infrastructure management and called for public oversight to ensure accountability and the protection of citizens’ rights.
In conclusion, CAPPA urged affected workers and the public to stand firm against attempts to commodify access to public water and to assert their rights to fair treatment and transparency in governance.
