By; AMOS MATHEW, Kaduna
Workers of the environmental waste management company ZL Global Alliance Nigeria Limited engaged by the state government on Wednesday invaded the Ministry of Environment to authenticate claims by the contractor that the said contractor is being owed money running into millions by the state government through the ministry.
The workers who were furious but peaceful in their demand expressed worries why in spite of discharging their duties effectively, they are not being paid as at when due and accordingly as a result of the company who engaged their services being owed money.
Some of those who spoke to Journalists, asked the Permanent Secretary who stood in for the Commissioner who was not on ground to confirm whether the claim of the contractor was true or not.
Responding, the Permanent Secretary Raubilu Shehu Ibrahim who came out to address the workers confirmed to the workers that the contractor was indeed being owed some money and appealed to the workers to exercise patients assuring them that the ministry is doing everything possible to effect the outstanding payments.
” we feel your pains and understand your complaints, but I have the authority of the commissioner to inform you that the situation will be addressed accordingly.
” She has also asked me to schedule a meeting with her and your leaders tomorrow to sought out the grey areas accordingly.
” The way and manner you have composed yourselves and articulate your complaints with maturity is commendable, and as a ministry we will do the needful to resolve the matter” he reiterated.
One of the leaders of the workers and the APC ward chairman of Maiburuji ward in Kaduna North local government Ashiru Sani Hussaini who spoke onbehalf of the workers said, “we are here to find out the claims of the contractor we work for that the ministry is withholding some of their monies which is making it difficult for the contractor to pay us our salaries in full and as at when due.
” We are happy that the ministry through the permanent secretary confirmed owing the contractor and assured us that effort was being made to make payment. We are going to hold another meeting with the Commissioner tomorrow .
Our correspondent who visited some parts of Kaduna metropolis reports that the agrieved workers were always seen discharging their duties of making and keeping the state clean always as part of efforts to make Kaduna great again.
