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 termination of 391 staff members by the Lagos Water Corporation.
The LWC let them go on April 15, 2024, explaining it as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts to improve operational efficiency and meet the changing demands of the organization.
“The choice to streamline the workforce is in reply to the continued problem of water scarcity in the state despite extensive infrastructure projects.
“LWC has faced significant financial and operational challenges, struggling to generate enough revenue to meet its responsibilities.
“The corporation’s unreliable water supply has led to a shrinking customer base and decreasing revenue,” the circular by the corporation partly said.
Meanwhile, members of the three unions affected by the dismissal have opposed it, stating 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.
