Workers at Dangote Savannah Sugar in Numan, Adamawa state have shut down the company in protest over alleged non-payment of workers’ gratuities and improved condition of service since 2003.
TGNews reports that the workers union, National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE, said the company failed to pay staff gratuities, as well as improved condition of service since 2003.
“We want our gratuities and condition of service that will guide our operations and this affected all cadres; no one has the condition of service,” one of its leaders, Mr David Simon said.
According to him, no agreement with regard to payment of annual gratuities, had been signed between the employers in the Food and Beverages Industry and the FOBTOB members in 2013.
“It is not acceptable, proper; even if there is a need for changes, it is only proper that when changes will be made in the agreement, you will go back to the same agreement table to make the changes.
“We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Nigige and Alhaji Aliko Dangote to intervene by appealing to the management to give us what is due to the workers.
“Our members are agitating for what is due to them; we are not asking for a salary increase, appraisal or more members to do the work. We are only asking what is due to us; as long as Dangote refuses to obey the rules, we will continue the struggle and never give up.
“What we are asking for is quality life after retirement; gratuity is what our members can use to start good lives after retirement, ” Simon said.
Eforts by TGNews to get the managing director, Mr Chimaera proved abortive.
