The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Lagos State Council, the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, and the
Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies will on Wednesday protest the sack of 391 staff members by the Lagos Water Corporation.
The LWC disengaged them on April 15, 2024, citing it as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts to enhance operational efficiency and meet the evolving demands :of the organisation.
“The decision to streamline the workforce is in response to the persistent challenge of water scarcity in the state despite extensive infrastructure projects. “LWC has faced substantial financial and operational challenges, struggling to generate adequate
revenue to meet its obligations. “The corporation’s unreliable water supply has resulted in a shrinking customer base and declining revenue, the circular by the corporation partly read.
Meanwhile, members of the three unions affected by the sack have kicked against it, saying it violates Section 20 of the Labour Act which requires an employer to notify the trade union or
workers’ representative of the reasons for and the extent of the redundancy before terminating the employment of its staff on account of redundancy. According to them, three of the affected workers have died due to shock and depression. Speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday night, the Lagos State Secretary of NANNM, Oloruntoba Odumosu, said the association had petitioned the Head of Service in the state on May 3, 2024, to recall the workers. “A meeting was held today, not in response to the letter, but they acknowledged receipt of it. They said no going back. They even went ahead to pay the five-month redundancy payment. “We have a protest tomorrow. We will start from Ikeja under the bridge to the Alausa Secretariat.”
The corporation had in December 2023, sacked 450 casual workers.
