Strike: CAC workers accuse management of contract inflation

The industrial crisis at the Corporate Affairs Commission may
not be over soon as the workers union has vowed to continue their
industrial action until all their demands are met.

The workers under the auspices of the Amalgamated Union of
Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational
Service Employees had on Monday commenced a strike action which led
to a total shutdown of the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Addressing journalists on Friday, in Abuja, the Chairman of the
Union, Ibrahim Kirfi, said the union has lost confidence in the
management of the commission and as such urged the Federal
Government to intervene.

He said, “We are demanding the sacking of the entire management
of the commission for sanity and industrial peace.

“An interim management should be set up by the Federal
Government to re-organize the commission’s operation in order to
promote ease of doing business in Nigeria.

“We hereby call on the Acting President to save the nation by
taking a decisive action on this lingering crisis to Avery the
commission’s imminent collapse and to save business in
Nigeria.”

But reacting to the allegations of the union, the Deputy
Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Godfrey Ike, told our correspondent
in a telephone interview that the management of the commission has
met all the demand of the workers.

He said,”The CAC has met the demand as the Hon Minister of
Industry has approved the payment for the implementation of the
Memorandum of Understanding signed by all the parties.

“Instead of opening the gate of the office to allow staff to
continue with work, they have blocked the gate and come up with
another demand that management should be sacked.

“It’s pertinent to state all procurement issues in the
Commission follow due process and this can be verified.

The union accused the management of corruption, inflation of
contracts in state offices, tax evasion through alleged fraudulent
training of members of staff and use of government funds for
personal transactions.

The industrial crisis at the Corporate Affairs Commission may
not be over soon as the workers union has vowed to continue their
industrial action until all their demands are met.

The workers under the auspices of the Amalgamated Union of
Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational
Service Employees had on Monday commenced a strike action which led
to a total shutdown of the commission’s headquarters in
Abuja.

Addressing journalists on Friday, in Abuja, the Chairman of the
Union, Ibrahim Kirfi, said the union has lost confidence in the
management of the commission and as such urged the Federal
Government to intervene.

He said, “We are demanding the sacking of the entire management
of the commission for sanity and industrial peace.

“An interim management should be set up by the Federal
Government to re-organize the commission’s operation in order to
promote ease of doing business in Nigeria.

“We hereby call on the Acting President to save the nation by
taking a decisive action on this lingering crisis to Avery the
commission’s imminent collapse and to save business in
Nigeria.”

But reacting to the allegations of the union, the Deputy
Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Godfrey Ike, told our correspondent
in a telephone interview that the management of the commission has
met all the demand of the workers.

He said,”The CAC has met the demand as the Hon Minister of
Industry has approved the payment for the implementation of the
Memorandum of Understanding signed by all the parties.

“Instead of opening the gate of the office to allow staff to
continue with work, they have blocked the gate and come up with
another demand that management should be sacked.

“It’s pertinent to state all procurement issues in the
Commission follow due process and this can be verified.

The union accused the management of corruption, inflation of
contracts in state offices, tax evasion through alleged fraudulent
training of members of staff and use of government funds for
personal transactions.