Inconsiderate Dangote not bothered about 5,000 workers- Nyako
Premium Times

Published: December 28,2012


Dangote shut the company in July 2011.

About 18 months after he ordered the closure of Savannah Sugar Company, rendering over 5,000 workers jobless, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, said he is not bothered about the fate of the workers, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa has said.

Mr. Nyako said he spoke to Mr. Dangote over the continuous closure of Savannah Sugar Company, during which the billionaire expressed his stance about the closure of the company.

Dangote Group acquired the company, located in Numan, Adamawa State, during the privatisation exercise of the Federal Government under President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002.

The company was shut down in July 2011 following alleged security threat by some angry casual workers and the host community. The workers had protested their working conditions.

“The Israelites were better off in Egypt than we are at Dangote Savannah Sugar Company. We work from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and our daily pay is only N500. Can this money feed the dog of the managing director of the company for one hour?” Dimas Ishaku, leader of the protesting workers told Guardian Newspapers then.

A year and a half later, Mr. Dangote appears determined to continue to punish the workers.

I’m not bordered

Mr. Nyako told members of Adamawa Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, who paid him a Christmas visit on Friday that he appealed to the management of Savannah Sugar Company in Numan to re-open the company.

“Government is worried over the shutdown of the company,” Mr. Nyako said.

The governor told the labour leaders that Mr. Dangote expressed a nonchalant attitude to the plight of the affected workers.

“I spoke with Dangote himself, the owner of the company over the situation, where I assured him clearly that we have learnt our lessons,” Mr. Nyako said.

“He told me that if he closes down the company for 20 years, he is not going to lose or be affected in any way or the other from his daily business all over the world,” the governor said.

The governor said re-opening the ailing company would contribute to the economic development and prosperity of the people.

Mr. Nyako said that he is worried because over 5,000 workers had been rendered jobless. He expressed concern over the prolong closure of the company, said that the development was having negative impact on the citizens of the state.

“I think it is now time for the authority of Savannah Sugar to consider the huge investment opportunity and the plight of the state to re-open it,” he said.

Resolving the differences

The governor said that his administration is genuinely interested in finding a permanent solution to the crisis between the company, the host community and the staff.

Mr. Nyako said that he met with the host Numan community where he clearly told them about the need to get the company operating as part of measures to resolve the problem.

In February last year, the Bachama kingdom (including Numan) cautioned that the Bachama traditional council would not guarantee the safety of Savannah investments if the problem of compensation was not resolved.

The state NLC Chairman, Dauda Maina, had earlier said that they were at the government house to pay Christmas homage aimed at building cordial relationship between government and civil servants.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/113005-inconsiderate-dangote-not-bothered-about-5000-workers-nyako.html

Capitalism,smh.....but with the ban on foreign sugar 4rm january 2013,dangote should fancy his chances, expand and get those people re-absorbed

Someone should tell Nyanko that as state governor, He has the power to buy out that company and get it running again! When will our leaders start using the brains God gave them? If dangote is tired of running the company, surely there are emergency measures the House of Assembly can put in place to ensure the state buys that company and get it functional again.

I will start by revoking the Certificate of Occupancy of the company and make the land a government owned! One man can't make over 5,000 people remain in hunger!

Omo_Tier1: Someone should tell Nyanko that as state governor, He has the power to buy out that company and get it running again! When will our leaders start using the brains God gave them? If dangote is tired of running the company, surely there are emergency measures the House of Assembly can put in place to ensure the state buys that company and get it functional again.

I will start by revoking the Certificate of Occupancy of the company and make the land a government owned! One man can't make over 5,000 people remain in hunger!

Honestly after reading the post i couldnt help but shiver at the dumbness of most of our supposed leaders.For the past 2yrs?How can a gov with monthly allocation and resources be whining like a confused todler?So if dangote refuses reopening the factory that means all hope is lost for d 5000 displaced workers and youths in the state?And what does d gov mean by 'We have learnt our lessons'?Na wa o,talk about lack of leadership and vision.Cant the land be revoked?You cant allow d youths to go on jobless because u re waiting on one dangote to reopen operation.This is the reason why all these old and washed out men should give way for the youth to takeover the reigns of leadership,so that innovations and creativity will come to bare.If this story is true,then this gov really fall hand.