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Retired mine workers petition Fayemi over unpaid pension, gratuities

By Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos
29 December 2016   |   3:00 am
The Nigeria Union of Mine Workers has petitioned the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, over the non-payment of their disengaged entitlements.
Minister of Solid Mineral Resources Dr. Kayode Fayemi

Minister of Solid Mineral Resources Dr. Kayode Fayemi

The Nigeria Union of Mine Workers has petitioned the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, over the non-payment of their disengaged entitlements.

In a resolution passed at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in held Jos, Plateau State, the union urged the Minister to intervene and take necessary action.

The retirees said the Ririwai mine is a strategic national asset, which has been managed by Nigerian Mining Corporation since the exit of the British Mining companies who first established the mine in the late 1970s.

They said the mines workers’ trust was equally allotted some shares in Ririwai Mines, on behalf of the hard workers. Ririwai is a village between Kaduna and Kano.

A statement by union’s National General Secretary yesterday, Adekunle Obaro Laniyan, said the Federal Government has been assuring the mine workers union that the asset is being held in trust pending privatization, and that upon privatization, the union and other stakeholders would receive their fair share of the proceeds.

His words: “We have now been made aware that for the last 18 months, there has been heightened activity around the Ririwai mine and associate properties. An Indian company (Century Mines Ltd) has moved in various equipment carrying out unknown activity at the mine. They have also invaded the various properties built to support mining operation, such as the offices and the residential estate.

“We have great concern that they may have also vandalized or sold off the mining equipment which were acquired at significant cost in times past. We have been made to understand that the Indian company informs the local community that they were operating under the instruction and authority of unnamed officials from the Ministry of Mines in Abuja.

“We plead with the Honourable Minister to step in and prevent the raping and pillaging of this national asset by these opportunistic foreigners. We urge you to take all measures at your disposal to correct this injustice to our union and to our great country, Nigeria. We implore you to take urgent action and stop this company from continuing raping and pillaging this all important national asset.”

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