THE Public Complaints Commission (PCC) has ordered the management of Hongxing Steel Company, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, to shut down operations immediately to pave way for unhindered investigations into incidences of factory accidents, including the alleged recent death of employees.

Federal Commissioner of the commission, Funso Olukoga, who gave the order in Lagos while making public the outcome of the PCC’s preliminary investigation into factory accidents in the steel company, also directed the Lagos State Safety Commission to enforce the closure order on the factory effectively.

Workers of the company had in a national daily last week lamented what they termed as slavery and factory accidents leading to death and maiming of workers without adequate compensation by the company among other untoward issues.
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They had alleged that one of their colleagues, Emeka Umoh, a worker with the steel company, was scalded to death after liquefied iron spilled on his body while on duty.‎

Umoh, they said, later died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Idi Araba where he was rushed to for treatment.

But during the presentation of the commission’s findings done in collaboration with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Olukoga emphasised that their findings showed “a strong probability that the factory operates in an environment that is dangerous for workers to operate in.”
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According to him, the company should remain closed pending when necessary steps are taken to comply with health and safety regulations as stated in the country’s statute books.

Olukoga, who said the investigations were carried out pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 (3) (b) of the Public Complaints Commission Act Cap P. 37, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004, said their findings presented “evidence of non-compliance with basic universal health and safety standards.”

The PCC Federal Commissioner for Lagos State urged the police authority to investigate all cases of workers’ death caused by factory accidents.

He further advised the management of the‎ company to invite past and serving employees who were injured in the course of duty on possible payment of compensation in collaboration with officials of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, PCC, TUC and NLC as witnesses.

The presentation was attended by Obinna Eze whose right hand fingers were allegedly chopped off by a compressor while on duty in the company and has not been paid any compensation.