Following an allegation of non-payment of several months of salary owed street sweepers in Lagos by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), made in a viral video on Instagram by a man who claimed to be a Supervisor at LAWMA, the waste management authority says the sweepers were directly engaged by contractors.
It began when a man accused the Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Ibrahim Odumboni, of not paying 3-months salary and being uncompassionate to the poor.
“Mr. Ibrahim, LAWMA MD, what did the poor do to you? What did the mothers do to you? What did they buy from your tray, and did not pay, that you decided to make them go through this kind of punishment?
The yet-to-be-identified man said street sweepers in the state worked every morning till 4 pm. He added that they continued working even during the COVID-19 lockdown.
“When it was time to pay our salaries, how did it suddenly become hard for you? You are owing us three month’s salaries. We are hungry. The mothers are hungry. Give us our salaries.”
The man claimed to be an asthmatic patient and that he could not afford to buy drugs, adding that he had no food in his kitchen. He asked the Governor of Lagos, Babjide Sanwo-Olu to resolve the situation.
“We are toiling. What is the essence of the work? We are the ones keeping Lagos clean.
“Ibrahim, LAWMA MD, don’t allow the widows to curse you. If they curse you, it will stick.
“Do you want me to start begging people for money to buy my drugs? Help us,” he said.
LAWMA, in a statement issued by its Acting Managing Director, Ibrahim Odumboni, said the street sweepers were directly engaged by contractors of the agency.
The contractors are responsible for their (sweepers) monthly payments and upkeep, the Authority revealed.
Mr. Odumboni said although a contractual agreement existed between the Authority and contractors, the state government prioritises the welfare and wellbeing of its personnel and affiliate companies.
He said LAWMA had made April payments to the contractors for disbursement to their staffers, adding that efforts were ongoing to ensure payment.
The statement concluded that the Authority appreciates the services rendered by the sweepers and assured that LAWMA would ensure prompt payment to its contractors.
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