Kwara NLC, TUC Protest, Shut Down Lower Niger River Basin Office Over Alleged Mismanagement
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on Monday stormed the premises of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority in Ilorin, Kwara state,, protesting alleged mismanagement, intimidation and threats against workers by the management of the agency.
The protest, which brought activities at the agency’s complex to a complete standstill, saw angry workers and union members barricading entrances to the facility.
They chanted solidarity songs and carried placards with various inscriptions condemning the leadership of the Managing Director, Engr. Olumoroti.
Some of the placards displayed by the protesters read: “Olumoroti Is Working Against The Renewed Hope Agenda!”, “Mr President’s Efforts To Fix Nigeria Must Not Be Weakened By Bad Management In Our Organization!.”,
“Respect Due Process, Respect Labour Act,” and “NLC Says No To Victimization Of Workers In The Lower Niger River Basin Authority.”
The demonstrators accused the management of the agency of alleged high-handedness, victimisation of labour leaders and creating an atmosphere of fear among staff members.
Eyewitnesses said the situation later degenerated into a mild violent confrontation when some individuals allegedly attempted to disrupt the protest.
During the chaos, one man was reportedly dragged on the ground while sticks were seen being wielded as tension escalated within the premises of the government agency.
Security operatives were later seen monitoring the situation to prevent a further breakdown of law and order.
The protesting workers insisted that they would continue to demand accountability, respect for workers’ rights and an end to alleged intimidation within the establishment.
As of the time of filing this report, the management of the agency has yet to officially respond to the allegations raised by the protesting labour unions.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
