Protest hit Hamdala Hotel over unpaid 7yrs entitlement
Protest hit Hamdala Hotel over unpaid 7yrs entitlement
By Godwin Ekosin, Kaduna
Retired-workers of Arewa and Kaduna Hotels (Hamdala), a subsidiary of the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC), yesterday staged a peaceful protest to demand payment of their entitlements seven years after retirement.
The angry workers, who stormed the Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council secretariat, lamented the untold hardship posed on them as a result of the non payment of their entitlements.
Leader of the protesters, Umar Musa, complained bitterly that all efforts to get the management settle the entitlements proved abortive. He then appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Northern Governors to as a matter of urgency, intervene in the matter.
According to him, “the reason why we take a unanimous decision to come out enmasse along side with her sisters unit, i.e Sokoto hotel, Zaria hotel, Aso motel, NTICC, Hamdala hotel and Arewa Hotel headquarter to collectively speak with one voice to reach out to Nigerian communities, Northern communities because the call was necessitated out of bondage, economic hardship, traumatization, neglect for this period of stagnation.
“This ex-staff contributed immensely to keep the dream and aspirations of late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto alive, for dedicating their useful age, strength, energy, commitment and hardwork to their fatherland.
“For the past 7 years, after retiring from service several approach was made to the management and board members for the payment of the workers.
“Unfortunately, it has come to our notice that even the existing staffs working are in salary arrears of 13th months. In all ramifications this catastrophe has grossly affected we the ex-staff, because currently our wards dependent no longer earn a livelihood, no decent house and render our colleagues to die untimely, through heart breaks and blood pressure among others.
“We are appealing for the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Chairman Northern Governors Forum, Distinguished members of the Senate and House of Representatives and the Sultan of Sokoto in the matter.
“Indeed, we the Ex-staff are helpless and want to use this medium to solicit for your aggressive approach on this matter to solve it once and for all, as soon as possible,” he said.
They were carrying Placards with inscriptions such as “please save us, President Buhari, Northern Govs.”, NNDC pay us our entitlement” and “We are dying, our children no longer go to school”.
Meanwhile, when contacted to speak on the matter, the General Manager of Hamdala hotel and PRO of NNDC, declined to talk to newsmen.
Posted from GoBroadsheet