Aggrieved Ex-Staff Members of Sparkwest Steel Industries in Sagamu Demand Justice, Protest Non payment of Pension
By: Ogunleye Oluwapelumi
Disengaged ex staff members of sparkwest steel industries limited, today, gathered in protest at the company location at no 1 holiness way off Ode Lemo Sagamu.
Following the disengagement of 85 staff in 2022 who claimed to have worked for several years for the company, they complained of the unfair treatment from the company’s management.
After their unlawful disengagement, the involved staff members visited traditional rulers across Remo land and also the National Industry Court of Nigeria, Ibadan Judicial Division, where a conclusion was reached and the salary, gratuity, cooperative was paid to all of them.
Following the court order, an agreement was, however, reached that they all will be paid their pension which totaled to the sum of N74, 936, 712.86 (Seventy four million, Nine hundred and thirty-six thousand, seven hundred and twelve Naira, eighty-six kobo), on or before February 28th 2024, but unfortunately, the management of sparkwest haven’t kept to their end of the order given by the court.
The protesters came out in their numbers pleading to all necessary authorities and particularly the management of sparkwest steel industries limited to pay them their pensions as they’ve been finding it challenging to survive since they’ve been unlawfully laid off work.
They carried placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Sparkwest and Mr Niyi you have defaulted this is March pay us’, ‘Sparkwest Management obey the court order’, ‘where is our seven years pension’.
“They sacked us all unlawfully, and despite how hard we’ve all worked to keep the company running during our time, they’ve refused to pay us our pension”.
“The Court order given to them was they should pay us before 28th of August 2024, and the management of the company confirmed they will, but until this moment, we’ve not received any payment from them and that’s why we all are here”
“They’ve acted against the court, they acted against humanity, and they’ve acted against the law that governs labor. This is so bad, and it’s an act of wickedness. We are not here to fight, all we want is for them to pay us our money, and we are gone” a heartbroken ex staff stated in his statement submission.
As of the time of filling this report, nothing has been heard from any executive member or management of sparkwest steel industries limited.
