Ondo govt sacks over 100 street sweepers despite owing them for six months

Sanitation workers employed for sweeping the streets and highways in Akure, the Ondo State capital, have been sacked by the Ondo State Waste Management Authority.

Thefrontrank reports that the over 100 street sweepers, mostly widows and aged were owed six months salaries before their sack by the Ondo state government.

It was gathered that ZL Global Alliances, a private company in charge of waste management in the state, owed the sweepers December 2023 and January 2024 salary, while the Ondo State Waste Management Authority is owing them February to May salary.

The state government in January terminated the services of ZL Global Alliances following the taking over of the affairs of the state by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa after the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

Competent source told Thefrontrank that the street sweepers were on Friday, May 31, informed that their services were no longer needed from June 1 by the government.

Some of the sweepers, while narrating their ordeal, accused the Ondo Waste Management Authority of engaging in “anti-labour practices”.

One of the sweepers, who pleaded anonymity, said: “We were sacked last week Friday without prior notice by the Ondo State Waste Management Authority and as we speak they are owing us six salary.

“ZL Global Alliances is owing two months salary(December and January) before the government terminated its contract in January, and immediately, the Ondo State Waste Management Authority absorbed us as its staff.

“They are paying us N15,000 per month. It is sad that the government did not pay a dime for four months we worked with them before the abrupt sack last week.

“They told us that it was Akeredolu’s people that employed us, the current government wants to replace us with their families and friends.

“In my own case, I have nothing to do for now. As a widow, I’m the only one taking care of my children. The government should please pay the money it is owing us and reconsider us.”

A senior staff of the Ondo State Waste Management Authority told Thefrontrank that the decision to sack the sweepers was “an order from above”.

The senior staff who pleaded not to be named, referred further inquiry to the state Ministry of Environment.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Commissioner for Environment were unsuccessful as his telephone line was not connecting.