SACKED WORKERS OF ENL AND DANGOTE DEMAND FOR UNPAID ENTITLEMENTS

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Ikoyi Lagos has set aside Thursday February 20, 2020 for a day of judgement for the dock workers; and December 4/5 (Weds/Thurs), 2019 for the second phase of Trial/Hearing of witnessed of Dangote Plc, concerning the sacked 800 Dangote Truck Officers. Apparently, for a lot of dock workers who were in court, hearing the set day of judgement, was a way forward. 

Thursday 21 November, 2019 was the Final Written Address(es) of both Amie Oge (ENL lawyer) and Toluwani Adebiyi (Dock workers lawyer). Both lawyers presented their arguments of file cases that has lasted for more than two years in Court. The workers in the past two years has been dogged in the fight for the company to pay their 10 years unpaid salaries and remuneration. Not only for their entitlements but for the fight to end casualization. 

In the same day, Dangote Truck Officers have their own case as Trial/Hearing. Toluwani Adebiyi represented the sacked workers in full capacity. The hearing took place with "cross examination" with   Kemi in the dock, who represented the 800 workers sacked by answering 15 to 20 Questions thrown to her by Dangote lawyer. Questions like their salaries, pensions etc were asked. Replies were given by Kemi on why the company sacked them. More importantly, refusal to pay the agreed entitlements. 

The organized protests is base on breach agreement Dangote has embarked upon. May 2016 that Dangote employed the workers, the agreement with the truck officers was after a particular period, the officers shall automatically owe the truck despite they were employed and paid salaries, which is the sum of N60, 000 per month. However, Dangote, because of maintaining its profit index, decides to breach the agreement, which anger the truck officers to go on protest.  

While 4/5 December, 2019 is set aside for Dangote witness to appear for cross examination. 800 of the truck officers sacked, only about 85 were in court to give solidarity and organized a demonstration to politically air their view on the matter, for Dangote to pay the agreement demand. In the same vein, out of the 688 disengaged dock workers since March 2016, only 60 of them were in court too to chant solidarity and give support to their legal counsel. 

The disengaged workers sole demand has been that ENL Consortium should pay them the agreed salaries of N33, 000 bi-annual 10% signed by the tripartite bodies of MWUN, NIMASA and NPA in May 20, 2008. In addition, with other entitlements since they were employed in 2006 after the Obasanjo led PDP administration and his capitalists cronies, concession and privatized the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA). The concession of NPA is for profit driven agenda and capitalist oriented. 

The Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights formed by members of Democratic Socialist Movement, who has been with the 688 disengaged dock workers and 800 sacked Dangote truck officers since the very beginning of this protest, has continued to demand along side with the workers that all entitlements, remuneration, salaries etc must be paid by ENL Consortium and Dangote respectively. Outside this, CDWR has also campaign for an end to casualization and all anti-labour sharp practices.

In the spirit of building a campaign to end  casualization, anti-labour sharp practices and sanction of workers democratic rights to unionise. CDWR call on socialists, trade unionists, and labour activists, to give solidarity and political support to the ongoing legal battle of these sacked and disengaged workers for their employers to pay all benefits entitled to them. Most importantly, the CDWR uses this medium to call on  workers to get organized and protest against casualization and outsourcing of jobs. 

CDWR also call on workers to enforce employer of labour with picketing, boycott and demonstrations to fight against casualization and outsourcing, for better wage, better working and living condition, and most importantly, for the implementation of N30, 000 ($85). Above all, democratic rights to unionise. It is with the same spirit of this campaign that CDWR charge the NLC, TUC and ULC to declare for a day of action, for an end to casualization, contract staffing and outsourcing of jobs and the implementation of the N30, 000 with protest, picketing and rallies.

©LIFEINSLUM
Editorial