Kunle Adelabu
-Calls on enforcement agents to visit the company for failure to adhere to safety regulations
Comrade Funmi Sessi, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Council (centre), Mr Adekunle Shokunbi, the victim (4th left), Com. Bakare Abiodun, State NLC Secretary (3rd left), Captain Olumide, Head of Haddassah Security Limited, the security company incharge of the Spring Seed Limited (2nd left) with other labour leaders and residents during the protest by the labour union.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Council, has clamped down heavily on the management of the Spring Feeds Nigeria Limited, lkorodu, for allegedly refusing to compensate one of his workers that lost a hand when performing his official duty for the company.
The company, an animal feeds producing factory, is located at Ayetoba/Alhaji Rasaki Shokunbi Street, off Itamaga/Ijede Road, Ikorodu.
Some of the NLC chieftains also said that the company is also into the production of groundnut oil and flakes.
Adekunle Shokunbi, a 22 year old resident of Ikorodu, works at Spring Feed Limited and was promoted to the position of a supervisor in the factory before the unfortunate incident. He lost his right hand after another staff (named David) turned the machine on while he was working on it.
The NLC State Chairman, Comrade Funmi Sessi, who led the team, alleged that the company management were uncooperative and that the company is not safe enough for workers. She, therefore, called on regulatory bodies at the state and federal levels to visit the company for enforcement.
Comrade Sessi, addressing the public at the frontage of the company, thanked residents of the area that came out to support the NLC in fighting for the boy’s right.
“We are here because a Nigerian; a young man that came to source for a living had his hand chop off in April this year, by the machine he operated upon in this factory. After this young man has lost his hand, so many things had happened but the company has not deemed it fit to talk about compensation for this young man”, she said.
“This show the way and manner that the management of this company actually dealing with the welfare of its workforce. If the management has been magnanimous and have human feelings, the matter would not have degenerated into what we are witnessing today.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress was informed by Labour Writers’ Association, news medium, parents of this young man and some lawyers. We were told about the plight of this young man and we are here to show solidarity with this man (victim) because he is a Nigerian”.
The labour leader said that the boy has started exhibiting suicidal traits and that his family members are worried and wants support for him.
She condemned the attitude of the company’s management whom she said are proving difficult to dialogue on how to resolve the victim’s future.
“We were mandated to be here today because this man (victim) has started to exhibit suicidal traits. He has started to threaten the mother and she has been seeing his threats. The mother said that he would lock the door against himself, refused to eat or talk to anyone. These are suicidal traits. And, we cannot neglect all these, hence, we have to come out”, Cpmrade Sessi said.
“We need to support ourselves because injury to one is injury to all. There is an injury to this young man and his injury is an injury to all of us. We have to care for him, even though, the family has informed lawyers and they have the right to do that because they (management of the company) has been proving difficult and they have even proven that today (Monday).
“I spoke with the company yesterday (Sunday) and I gave them a soft landing for us to dialogue and resolve issue amicably without rancor or any problem because we know that some young people are still working in this company”.
Comrade Sessi, while stating that the company is not adhering to the necessary labour laws, especially in terms of safety regulations, called on the government’s monitoring agents, at the federal and state levels, to visit the company for enforcement to prevent other Nigerians from losing their body parts.
“We know that this company is not properly setup for the kind of business that they are doing here, especially in the area of safety regulations and measures. If we don’t want more young men to lose their body parts, the Federal and Lagos State Governments, Federal Ministry of Labour, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Monitoring agencies and regulations, have to visit this company. They operate and produce animal fields”, she said while calling on government agencies to visit the company.
“We came here to maintain peace and order, but when we got here, we met very stiff opposition from this company. In fact, immediately that they saw us, they close down the factory.
“We have heard from the family of this young man (victim), but because we do not want to base our judgment on one side information, that’s why we decided to balance it by hearing from the company’s side too”, she said.
Meanwhile, the victim, Adekunle who was employed by the company on September 15th last year, speaking with our reporter, said that the company is not forthcoming in discussing any compensation and how he will move on in life.
He alleged that the management of the Spring Seed Company always creates difficulties whenever there is an opportunity to meet with them.
“I worked as a Stockist, but l was later asked to act as a supervisor. I later had an accident in the factory which was not in anyway my fault. The machine was turned on by a guy named David, while l was still working”, he said.
“The incident happened on April 5, this year.
“The company has not been forthcoming at all after paying the medical bills. We actually paid some and they (the company) also paid part of it. After that, they kept paying my salary but not talking about any compensation and how I am going to move on in life. They are not even talking about that”, he said.
“We talked about the artificial hand, but anytime that we hold a meeting, they are always creating difficulties around the whole thing. It has not been easy for us and it’s embarrassing to us too..
“Life has not been the same since the incident happened. I just want what is due to me actually”, Adekunle demanded.
Adekunle, who deplored the treatment by the company, especially its managing director, commended the NLC for intervening in his ordeal.
“They (NLC) have my interest at heart. They have been the one fighting for me and I am very happy with the way that they are standing up for me. This woman (Dayo Seriki Oshitade, the Managing Director of Spring Limited), sees me as someone that doesn’t have anybody actually. She sees me as nobody”, he said.
The distraught mother of Adekunle was unable to talk throughout the NLC protest, but stayed closely to his son.
Meanwhile, after a lengthy dialogue, the NLC leaders opened the small gate that leads into the company security unit for one Captain Olumide who is incharge of the company’s security, to allow his security details take charge and watch over the company’s property.
They, however, warned against tampering with the Labour padlocks used in shutting the two main gates of the factory.
Before the security details were allowed into the premises, they went round with the Labour leaders to ensure that everything is intact.
Some of the residents that stood by the labour leaders during the protest, also condemned the treatment of staff by the company.
