By Monsuru Olowoopejo

Until last week, many  youths in Lagos were desirous of working with the China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation, CCECC, considering the multi-billion naira contracts awarded to them by the Federal and state governments.

protest: Cross section of workers of China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC, during a protest over unpaid compensations to workers, at CCECC…

But the demonstrations by staff and casual workers of the construction corporation last week, exposed the alleged unconditional retrenchment of 500 workers and maltreatment melted to the workers by their employer.

The protest train which halted activities in the state started from the office of the construction company at the construction site at Majidun, Ikorodu on May 07, 2015.

Not satisfied by the response given by the officer at Majidun yard, the workers again hit the street in a renewed vigour protesting to the Headquarters of the construction company in Orile-Iganmu.

While the workers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja downed tool, refusing to continue work for their Chinese employer, rather staged a protest to alert Nigerian of their plight.

Another major construction work affected by the striking workers was the Lagos-Badagry Expressway which was been expanded into 10-lanes and the Blue Line of the Light rail. Also affected was the finishing touches on the expanded Ikorodu road awarded at N29 billion to CCECC.

 Construction company

At the head office of the construction company, the protesters barricaded the entrance of the company located within the National Theatre to protest their sack by the CCECC management.

They alleged that the Corporation was about unburdening them to a sister Chinese company, China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC) without paying necessary workers packages to the new company.

They argued that CCECC has systemically laid off over 3,000 workers on flimsy excuses.

Mr. Simon Uje, one of the workers said that they were aggrieved for been sacked without notice by the company.

According to him, “Today we resumed for duty only to be told that our services are no longer needed.

“A worker will resume and work by 8 a.m. and close at 12 p.m. and the person will be sacked without pay and no prior information. This is sad,” Uje said.

Another worker, Mr Rufus Adebayo said that they worked every day for a month without an off day and received between N30,000 and N35,000.

He added “The workers have no free day. Some of us have worked with the company for four to five years but there is no condition of service and no letter of appointment.

Another, Mr Bello Yusuf, said that the workers do not have basic welfare package such as a health scheme to protect them because of the hazards of the job.

Yusuf said that monthly, N600 was being deducted from their salary as union due, but the workers’ rights are not well represented.

Effort by the protesters to get the attention of the management proved abortive. Due to this, the protesters defied the scorching Sun, and stormed the Office of the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode but he had left for Abuja Federal Capital Territory, FCT for a meeting with the President, Muhammadu Buhari.

The workers, in a protest letter to the governor lamented that larger percent of them had been employed by the company for the past five years but were laid off without any form of payment.

Govt reacts

Addressing the protesters, the Chief of Staff to the Lagos Governor, Olukunle Ojo said the state government would call the protesters for a meeting next week, assuring that their entitlement would surely be paid.