Hundreds of street sweepers in Edo State on Monday took to the streets of Benin City, the State capital to protest their N17,800 (Seventeen Thousand, Eight Hundred) Naira monthly take home.
The women who dressed in their coverall jackets, brandished placards with different inscriptions, such as: “we are tired of N17,800 monthly payment”; increase our salaries,” among others.
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Speaking to journalists at the secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Edo State Council, Mrs Gloria Efosa claimed they have been working with the N17,800 minimum wage increased by the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole administration.
According to her, they have approached the General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board, Mr Charles Imariagbe, but was told that they are not part of government workforce but casual workers.
“Since Obaseki became governor, we have been working with the minimum wage that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole administration approved over nine years ago.
“When we went to the General Manager of the Waste Management Board (Mr Charles Imariagbe) he told us that, we don’t have employment letters and that Obaseki said that he does not know us as his workers.
“But if they want to do anything, they will come and pack us to go and do cleaning for them.
“On Saturday, July 1, after we have finished doing our job, they came, packed us to go and clean up dirty in New Benin Market. After they have used us to do the dirty job, we wanted to talk of the poor pay, but they did not allow us to talk about it and that is why we are here.
“With the Nigerian economic situation, what will somebody buy with N17,000. If you have five children, how do you pay rent, school fees and feed with N17,000.
“That is why we are here, they even blocked us at Urokpota Hall. A woman blocked us on the road and told us that if we protest to government house, we are going to lose our jobs. We are tired, that is why we are here.”
Mrs Efosa also lamented that one of their colleagues was killed on duty on the 18th of April, 2023, yet nothing was given to the family as at today.
“One of our colleague was crushed by a hit-and-run car, while on duty on the 18th of April. She was taken to UBTH mortuary, but they rejected it, because she was badly crushed and nothing has been given to the family.”
Responding, the Chairman Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State Council, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, while commending them for embarking on a peaceful protest, pleaded with them to also give chance for negotiation, if need be.
“You have to go about it peacefully, don’t allow those hungry boys infiltrate your midst.You have the right to ask for increment of your salary. We will consult the management of the Edo State Waste Management Board for us to hear from them,” he said.
In his reaction, the General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board, Mr Charles Imariagbe, said the matter was already before them and that they are considering increasing their take home.
