An employee of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has accused the agency’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Ibrahim Odumboni, of lacking compassion on the elderly women cleaning Lagos roads.
In a video which has since gone viral, the supervisor, who claimed to be asthmatic, lamented the lack of payment of workers’ salaries for three months.
Speaking in Yoruba, he said, “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?
“We go to work every day. We ensure that Lagos State is clean. We go to work very early in the morning till 4 pm – when we return home. When there was COVID-19 lockdown, we had no break. We were still going out and ensured that Lagos was clean.
“When it was time to pay our salaries, how did it suddenly become hard for you? You are owing us three months’ salaries. We are hungry. The mothers are hungry. Give us our salaries.
“I am an asthmatic patient. I work with LAWMA as a supervisor. Look at what I use? Ask a doctor, ask them at the pharmacy how much it is worth. It is N6,500, with this one (inhaler). When they did not pay my salary, where do you want me to get money to buy my drugs?”
The official, whose name has not been confirmed, knelt and begged the LAWMA boss not to “destroy the good work” Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was doing.
He also urged the governor to come to their rescue.
In reaction to the video, LAWMA said in a statement that the workers’ welfare are taken care of by contractors.
The agency said, “To put the records straight, it is important to inform and educate concerned members of the public, who have been sympathetic and appreciative of the daunting challenges we encounter in ensuring a clean environment and the resolve of Mr. Governor in achieving the ‘THEMES’ agenda of this administration.
“The sweepers though, are engaged by contractors who are responsible for their upkeep. Despite this, the authority and indeed the state government prioritise their welfare and wellbeing, hence, they are given adequate care, support, and protection.
“The authority has since made April payments to our sweeping contractors, for onward disbursement to their staff members.
“In addition, efforts are being made to ensure prompt release of subsequent payments, not only for May, but all future payments.
“The authority and indeed the state government appreciate the great work our workers are rendering, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic period and we, therefore, assure them that we will continue to pay an optimal premium to their welfare.”
