By Oboh Agbonkhese

LAGOS—THE leadership of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, and aggrieved workers, yesterday in Lagos, picketed and crippled operations of the Nigerian Ropes Plc over N47 million allegedly owed its workers and non-remittance of some deductions, including pensions.

Other deductions were said to include non-remitted tax deduction, contributory pension and non-payment of N1.8 million death allowance to a late staff.

Others are N3.6 million non-remitted co-operative deductions, N1.3 million staff compensatory benefit, 15 percent increase in salary, N238 union dues and non-payment of accident claims.

Addressing the workers, General Secretary of the union, Mr. Isa Aremu, said the objective of the protest was to draw the attention of employers to the need for a decent work place in the country.

Aremu said it was regrettable that a 47-year-old company, one of the oldest in Nigeria, was owing workers 37 months’ salary amounting to N47 million.

He, however, said the Ministry of Labour and Productivity had scheduled a meeting today with the union and the workers to find a solution to the problem.

Contacted, Mr. Chima Orujugba, the company’s Human Resource Manager, said the company did not lock out its workers, saying “we did not lock out workers. The company is temporary not functioning.”

On why the workers were outside, he said: “Sorry, I cannot tell you more.”