Ibeto Sacks 180 Workers

L-R: President, Sustainable Development Goals, Mr Emma Nkweke (left), presenting an award to Rivers State Deputy Governor, Mrs Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, at the inauguration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Awareness Campaign in Port Harcourt, recently.

Over 180 staffers of Ibeto Cement Nigeria Limited have been allegedly laid off by the management without a pay off.
The Tide learnt that for over six months, Ibeto Nigeria Limited has not been producing following a lull in the economy.
The Tide also learnt that the decision to sack the workers was unconnected with the alleged expiration of the company’s importation licence by 2017.
Meanwhile, the retrenched workers have laid sieged at the company’s premises, and described the company’s decision as wicked and inhuman.
Some of the staff who spoke to newsmen at the premises of the company decried the inhuman condition under which they worked, stressing that the company does not have a policy to take care of the sick and injured.
They also alleged that some workers of the cement outfit are languishing in jail following trump up allegation of stealing, while their salaries have not been paid for over six months.
While vowing to continue their protest, they called on the state government to come to their aid.
Speaking with newsmen, one of the affected staff, Engr. Prince Omereji said that the management’s decision is not only frustrating, but causing serious anxiety among the workers and their families.
Engr. Prince said that, most of the workers are tired of working for Ibeto and want to go, but the management must pay them off.
When contacted on phone, the Assistant Personnel Manager of the company, Mr. Ogbulu declined comment however the Chief Security Officer of the company who simply gave his name as Tende said that the management only gave a stood off order for the workers for ten years with the view to bringing them back when the economic situation improves.
Mr. Tende who said that the situation is not peculiar to Ibeto alone argued that stood off order does not mean sacked and denied owing salaries for six months.
As at the time of filling this report, Security Agencies have already been drafted to the company to protect it against damages.