Ondo Streets Sweepers Protest Four Months’ Unpaid Salary

Fidelis David in Akure

Scores of women employed as street sweepers in Akure, the Ondo state capital, yesterday  occupied major streets in the metropolis to protest the non-payment of their stipends for four months.

The women, among whom  are widows, took their protest to the Ministry of Environment, where they expressed their grievances and threatened to down tool work if they aren’t paid.

The protesters, who were dressed in their green jackets, lamented over the “shabby” treatment being melted on them by the management of the ZL Global Alliances, a private company in charge of waste management and recycling in the state.

Addressing journalists, one of the leaders of the protesters, Oluwaseun Ogunniyi, said they were former staff at the Ondo State Waste Management that was contracted by the ZL Global Alliance since 2019.

Ogunniyi explained that the angry protesters were the ones sweeping the streets, highway roads, and markets and still been owed the stipend of N10,000 for four months.

“There is no promotion and we are now being paid N10,000 from the N20,000 we used to collect under the state government. They just started paying us N15,000. We close as late as 5 pm.  We always complain but they don’t answer us. The GM doesn’t stay in the office but has representatives to speak with us since August.

“So, Let them return us where we came from. If they don’t pay us, then we won’t work again,” she said.

Another elderly woman, Bimbo Adekunle revealed that they are always at their duty post as early as 4:30 am to sweep their portion, stressing that it was tiring not being paid as when due.

Adekunle, who said that it was always a long stretch before daybreak while working, noted that they were being owed backlogs  of salaries by the waste management company despite working hard under harsh economic conditions in the state.

She specifically lamented the danger associated with the job, noting that it was strenuous sweeping on the highway road without adequate protection.

“Since the time of the former Governors, Olusegun Mimiko and Olusegun Agagu, we have done this job and even received awards for it. But Since 2019 when ZL Global Alliance has taken over the waste management system in the state, they have not been paying our money very well.

“The General Manager always gives the excuse that the government has not paid. Our money for last year’s December, he has not paid, even for Octpber July, and November  this year, he has not paid. Please we appeal to ZL, General Chairman, Ondo State Waste Management, and the Commissioner, Chief Imam and the Oba of Akure, let them pay us, our stipend,” she said.

According to her, since ZL Global Alliance took over the management and recycling of waste in the state, the streets have always been filthy, adding that, “Let them return us under the state so that the state can be the one to pay us. We don’t have any bonus or anything.”

However, when contacted, the General Manager of ZL Global Alliance, Mrs Biola Basorun said: “I have had meetings with them but the issue is that some of them had issues with their account and more reason they are not getting paid. So, by next week they should start receiving their alert. Moreover, we are only owing them the salary of last month, which is November.”

Also, the Deputy Managing Director of ZL Global Alliance, Tobi Benjamin, in a statement said contrary to the protesters claim, the company is owing them only one month as it was due to some logistic challenges.

“While we acknowledge the right of workers to express their grievance, it is important that such be done in all sense of honesty and integrity. While the leaders of the protesters claimed that we owe them four months’ salary, it is not true as the only month we have not been able to pay them is due to some logistic challenges already being fixed and they are all already been told they will get the payment next week. It therefore beats our imagination that some people will claim they are being owed four months’ salary.

“Let it be noted that these are workers whose work is based on wages and not salary as they work for a maximum period of 3 hours. We have also been committed to their welfare as against their claims. They enjoy free medical care for themselves, their spouses, and a maximum of four children each as well as other bonuses and benefits.

“We had a town hall meeting with them last Wednesday urging them to be patient as we resolve the challenges inhibiting their payment. What then should have caused this protest remains unimaginable.”

He said the agency “understand the political situation in Ondo state and how some desperate elements are struggling to hold on to whatever to score cheap political points, however, they should know that we are reputable business concern not given to such frivolities. They should therefore stop the attempts at using some of our workers to play their politics.”

“For us, we are checking through our records to identify the names of these purported protesters as many of our sweepers still worked today. We therefore wonder where the protesters are from. For the umpteenth time, we like to state that we remain committed to the welfare of our staff in line with global best practices,” he added.