On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the joint union comprising Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical, and Recreational Service Employees, alongside the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies, staged a protest against the dismissal of 391 employees by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC).
Marching from Ikeja under-bridge to the State House of Assembly in Alausa, the demonstrators vocalised their grievances against the Lagos Water Corporation, arguing that the terminations, compounded by the prevailing economic challenges in the country, would severely impact those affected.
Some of the protesters held placards with inscriptions that read;
“Sanwo-Olu, go after contractors, leave staff alone,” “Respect the constitution”
“Do not scapegoat us over the corruption of water corporation management,” and so on.
Meanwhile, the LWC states that its reason for the layoffs was to align with the evolving demands of the organisation and to undertake restructuring efforts aimed at enhancing operational efficiency.
The management of the LWC stands accused of breaching Section 20 of the Labour Act, which stipulates that an employer must notify the trade union or workers’ representative regarding the reasons for and the extent of redundancy before terminating the employment of staff on grounds of redundancy.
Oloruntoba Odumosu, the Lagos State Secretary of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, disclosed that a petition was submitted to the Head of Service on May 3, 2024, seeking the reinstatement of dismissed workers.
Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, who participated in the protest alongside the workers, demanded the reversal of the dismissals.
“We are joining the workers in the protest because what happened was an unjust dismissal. The governments, led by President Bola Tinubu at the federal level and Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos State level, are treating Nigerians, especially these helpless workers, with levity,” Sanyaolu said.
So far, the spokesman for the LWC when contacted, said only the Managing Director can speak on the matter.
