Ajaokuta Steel Complex: Solgas Workers Begin Indefinite Strike
Labour
By Onwudo Francis
Following the face-off among the management of Ajaokuta Steel Company Nigeria Limit-ed, Solgas Energy, and the workers, the unions of the Kogi State-based company - Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (SSSAN) and the Steel and Engineering Workers' Union of Nigeria (SEWUN) - have embarked on an indefinite strike.
The workers had last Monday protested the alleged non-payment of their salaries and asked for the review of the contract awarded to Solgas Energy Limited.
The US-based company was awarded a 10-year contract last year by the Federal Government for the administration and rehabilitation of the abandoned Nigeria's larger steel complex.
In a letter signed by the President of ISSSAN, Comrade Orimijupa Titus, and General Secretary of SEWUN, Comrade K. Kadiri, the workers said: "As a result of the current crisis between the management of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited headed by Mr Seun Oyefeso and the entire workforce, a joint congress was convened. At the end of deliberations it was unanimously resolved that in order to arrest unpleasant consequences all members of both ISSSAN and SEWUN should stay at home till further notice."
They however exempted members on essential services should continue to report at their duty posts."
According to the union, Solgas Nigeria Limited has not demonstrated that it possesses the requisite financial, technical and managerial competence to complete and operate Ajaokuta Company Limited it therefore demanded that Solgas be relieved of the job to create way for positive development. Hence-forth, the workers added, the executives of the union would take charge of the issue.
They stated that with the concession agreement, the Federal Government will continue to pay the salaries and total emolument of staff until the commission of the project.
ISSSAN and SEWUN which have resolved to work together, advised that the monitoring group and the Ministry of Power and Steel should be made active in their statutory responsibility to the project and the staff welfare.
They noted that any attempt to victimise workers by the management will be resisted. They charged their members to be extra vigilant in order to protect the project of the company.
They directed that all the demand by the workers as contained in the agreement of 6th July, 2004 between the union should be adhered to.
The unions called on the Federal Government to recall the original contractor of the project, Messrs TPE of Russia, to come back to rehabilitate, complete and operate the project.
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