ANAMCO Staff Protest Planned Shut-Down

Tension is now mounting at the multi-billion naira Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company Limited (ANAMCO), Enugu, Enugu State, as the striking workers of the company have vowed never to go back to work until they know their fate on the alleged proposed plan to close down the establishment come January next year.

Following the development the aggrieved workers have called on the  Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt   Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to as a matter of urgency  commence investigation into the alleged  financial fraud running into millions of naira  against the former plant union chairman of the company, Mr. Nath Anike, and the Managing Director of AMAMCO, Jacques Gelin and some other principal officers of the Company.

According to some of the workers who spoke to newsmen in Enugu on condition of anonymity information reaching them had it that the automobile outfit has already concluded plans to close shop in Nigeria come January 2010 with a view to relocating to Germany without any arrangement whatsoever to pay them their gratuity and other entitlements.

In a petition tagged “Petition Against Former ANAMCO Plant Chairman Mr. Nath Anike”, jointly endorsed by the company’s plant Union Interim Chairman and the Secretary, Messrs Nwagbara Frank and Nweke John respectively, dated October 7, 2009, copied to the company’s chairman, Board of Directors, BPE chairman, among other officers and  made available to newsmen in Enugu, the workers  accused Mr. Anike of misappropriating several millions of naira belonging to both the company and the workers.

The workers also alleged that  the former plant chairman, had in May 2009 misappropriated the sum of 17 million naira belonging to workers as well as another 1.3million workers pension fund, calling on all the anti graft agencies in the country to take up the matter with every sense of seriousness.

The striking workers equally made it clear that the present worrisome  state of the multi- billion naira establishment jointly owned by the Federal and some state governments was occasioned by alleged  massive financial fraud that has been going on in the place for quite a long time.

They, however, wondered why  the company should be making plans of  closing shop in Nigeria without  making any arrangement on how to pay them all their benefits when as a matter of fact , they have tirelessly put in scores of years in the company to ensure its progress and sustenance.

Meanwhile, a  former Chairman of   Association of Senior Staff of the company, Mr. Iheanyi Ogbonna, who also spoke to newsmen accused the managing Director of the company, of conniving with some officers to loot the organization’s treasury to the detriment of the workers, as well as  the state and national economy.

Ogbonna regretted that he had written series of petition to various  Anti corruption agencies in  Nigeria in the past without result, appealing to the incumbent bosses  of  the anti graft commissions to  rise up to the occasion  and act now, adding that he had equally petitioned the National Assembly on the matter, insisting that there is urgent need  to investigate the massive financial fraud that has been taking place in ANAMCO long , he declared.

However, the workers protest and strike  has completely  paralyzed  normal activities at the automobile establishment located at the Emene Industrial Layout near the Akanu- Ibiam International Airport , Enugu, the capital city of Enugu State.