May Day: DICON workers protests non payment of wage arrears, awards in Kaduna
http://www.newsportng.com.ng Civilian staff of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has staged protest in Kaduna over the non payment of their eight months minimum wage arrears dated back in 2019.
The workers also complained that they have not received the N35,000 six-month wage award initiated by the federal government in September 2023 and so they are worried that they may still be left out of the new minimum wage deliberation that is ongoing between the Federal government and leaders of Labour Union.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the protest in Kaduna on Wednesday, the group alledged that despite their dedication to carryout their task effectively they are being hampered by several unresolved issues with DICON human resource practices.
The workers who spoke anonymously avered that the inability of DICON to meet its obligations to her civilian workforce have poised a serious threat to their productivity even though their morale remains high as they remain committed towards solution.
Enumerating some of their concerns, they said, “we are denied access to a critical program that promotes transparency and efficiency in wage distribution: the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). This exclusion prevents us from receiving the recent wage increases implemented for IPPIS-enrolled employees.
“Furthermore, it raises concerns about the accuracy of our payroll data outside of IPPIS. To add insult to injury, the Assistant Director of Human Resources, Mercy Philip, curtly dismissed our inquiries, calling IPPIS a “no-go area” and suggesting we forget about enrollment altogether. This dismissive response only heightens our suspicion.
“Allowances for scarce skills (established in 2008) and transportation (introduced in 2015) were abruptly stopped without explanation, causing frustration and a sense of unfair treatment. This is reprehensible treatment of a dedicated workforce.
“Unfortunately, our attempts to address these concerns through open communication with DICON’s management have fallen on deaf ears. Management has brushed aside our concerns, and even the Employee Town Hall, promised by the Director General to be held every two months, has never been held. This lack of transparency is further hindering progress.
“We have held peaceful protests, first on July 3rd, 2023, and most recently the one we declared on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, demonstrating a commitment to finding solutions. As DICON is a non-union workplace, we are staging this peaceful protest on a symbolically significant day for workers’ rights: May 1st. This comes amid reports of a list being compiled to terminate the appointments of those believed to be spearheading the ongoing protests.
“Furthermore, it should be noted that the demoralization and potential dismissal of a highly skilled workforce with exclusive expertise in producing restricted goods like weapons and explosives poses a significant security threat. Disgruntled or desperate workers could be more vulnerable to exploitation or radicalization, potentially jeopardizing the security of these sensitive materials. Will laying off such a critical workforce not exacerbate security threats by placing sensitive expertise in uncertain hands?
“We urge President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Defence, and other relevant government agencies to take immediate action to address our concerns regarding fair treatment, transparent payroll practices, and the timely resolution of these outstanding issues.
