Amalgamated workers’ union of the Kwara State Water Corporation has suspended its strike following the intervention by the state House of Assembly, according to report.
The State Chairman of the workers’ union, Issa Olusesan, informed our correspondent in Ilorin on Thursday that the decision to suspend the action was taken after a meeting between the union and members of the State House of Assembly on Wednesday.
Recall that a member of the House, Abdullahi Halidu Danbaba, on Tuesday, raised a motion on the need for an urgent intervention into the matter, which led to the summoning of the union leaders by the House.
In its resolution on Thursday, the House called on the state government to advertise and put other necessary machinery in motion towards the appointment of a substantive General Manager for the Kwara State Water Corporation.
The House commended the state leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress for being proactive in the resolution of the industrial crisis in the agency.
The House also urged the state government to provide operational vehicles for the Corporation and review upward the monthly allocation to enable it cater adequately for the provision of stationery materials and other working tools for the staff.
The legislative arm further asked the state government to provide adequate security for the waterworks in the state by engaging the service of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, and provision of relevant security kits in order to protect government property.
The workers union had issued a 14-day ultimatum to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in a letter demanding among others the immediate removal of the acting General Manager, Shehu Umar for alleged maladministration.
The workers also demanded the restructuring of the water sector.
The embattled general manager, however, defended the workers’ allegations, claiming that “it is corruption fighting back.”
He said the attempt to block revenue leakages by the management triggered the action by the workers’ union, adding that “even if the General Manager is removed, the move to block revenue leakages would continue.”