Trade union condemns sack of 370 LSWC workers

.Demands their reinstatement Group says layoff ploy to privatise water in state

The Lagos State Public Service Joint Negotiating Council (Trade Union) has strongly condemned the recent layoff of over 370 workers from the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC).

The trade union body, led by its Chairman, Olusegun Balogun, strongly criticised the corporation’s handling of the situation.

In a petition to the Lagos State Government, yesterday, Balogun claimed that the layoffs were implemented under the guise of restructuring and redundancy but without proper communication or negotiation with the union’s representatives.

He expressed deep concern about lack of transparency, particularly “during a period of economic hardship.”

Balogun described the situation as an assault on workers’ rights and the integrity of the entire public service workforce, saying: “The consequences of this sudden and unjust mass sack have already been felt, with at least one worker tragically losing his life as a result of the shocking news.”

He urged the Lagos State Government to suspend actions on the sacked workers pending thorough communication and negotiations with the affected unions, which include the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations, Government-Owned Companies and Associated Organisations (SSASSGOG).

Balogun, who cited Section 20 of the Nigerian Labour Act and relevant International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, which mandate employers to engage in dialogue and provide written notice before implementing mass retrenchment, as the basis for this request, questioned the rationale behind dismissing experienced members of staff to revive the corporation.

He urged the state to prioritise accountability and transparency by launching a comprehensive investigation into the alleged mismanagement of the LSWC and the utilisation of World Bank loans allocated for its enhancement.
“Workers cannot be punished for crimes they did not commit,” he further said.

Meanwhile, a group, Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), has alleged that the sack of the workers is the final ploy to privatise water in Lagos State.
In a statement, yesterday, the group urged the state government to unconditionally reverse the disengagement and set machinery in motion to provide water for residents of the state.

The group said that the disengagement of the workers by the new management of LSWC, led by Tijani Muktar, was only a smokescreen and part of the long-standing grand plan to privatise water resources in Lagos State.

Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakpor, said: “We refuse to be hoodwinked. The purported disengagement of members of staff of LSWC on the grounds of their being redundant is a ruse to ram through the privatisation agenda of the government by weeding the corporation of vocal opponents of the plan. It is unacceptable and must be reversed.”

Jakpor said that with information putting the total staff strength of the corporation at 588 statewide in March 2024, there is no correlation between the unjustifiable sack and boosting the operation of the corporation.

He insisted that dialogue and engagement of the staff of the water corporation is the only way to address the crisis in the corporation and not through bullying or contravention of laws.