Lagos – Some casual workers employed by the Lagos State Ministry of Environment on Wednesday staged a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly over the non-payment of their salaries for five months.
The workers, under the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang, sang different solidarity songs on the hardship they were experiencing.
One of the protesters, Miss Esther Ayo, a drainage attendant, urged the lawmakers to intervene in the matter to save them from hardship and suffering.
“Last year, we were owed five months but after a protest at this House, the debt was offset in December, though N11, 000 was deducted from the sum.
“Till now, the ministry has not only kept on promising to pay the deducted money, but has failed to pay us a dime since the beginning of this year. We live only on this salary and nothing attached.
“I will be 11 years on this job by the end of June; we want the Assembly to facilitate the payment of our salaries and ensure that our appointments are made permanent,’’ he said.
Another worker, Mr Ashiru Abideen, said their employer had failed to furnish him and his colleagues with necessary safety kits and gadgets to carry out their duties.
“Despite the meagre N15, 000 we are paid per month, we are not usually paid on time. Last year, we were not paid for five months, until January this year when this was paid.
“But as I am talking to you, we are yet to be paid for this year. We are not provided with working kits; we have no gloves, no boots or any other safety equipment.
“Each time we go out to work, we pack wastes with our bare hands, and are expected to step into drainages with no protective boots. This is not ideal for anybody,’’ Abideen said.
He pleaded for a review of their employment status, so that they could become full members of staff, while also praying for an upward review of their salaries.
Abideen, who works with the Environmental Services Consultancy Unit (ESCU), said after spending about 15 years on the job, he was still a casual worker with a meagre salary of N15, 000 per month.
Mr Samson Bankole of the Drainage Enforcement and Compliance Unit, said: “We want the Assembly to have mercy on us because we are hungry and we have families.
“We want the government to staff us and end the casualisation to give us hope after service.’’
Also lamenting, Mr Rasheed Yusuf, said he had been living from hand to mouth in the last few months.
“We appeal to the Lagos State Government to come to our aid so that not only will the money owed us be paid, but subsequently, our salaries will be paid as and when due,’’ Yusuf said.
Addressing the protesters, the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Sanai Agunbiade, commended them for their peaceful conduct and their faith in the parliament to resolve the matter.
Agunbiade urged the protesters to write a petition to the House, assuring them that the Assembly would intervene in the matter.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the majority leader directed the protesters to appoint five representatives to meet with the Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Mr Dayo Saka-Fafunmi. (NAN)