ECONOMIC INSIGHT CAC: Protesting workers demand sack of managment

The intervention of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, has failed to resolve the lingering industrial disharmony in the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Employees of the Commission, under the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), CAC chapter, have been on strike since Last Monday, protesting salary disparity between executive and non-executive staff.

The Union blamed the latest industrial action on the failure of the management to implement a peace pact reached by all parties which led to the end of a similar protest in the past.

The management on its side said it was waiting for a ministerial approval to implement the pact in the absence of a board.

However, the crisis assumed a heightened dimension over the weekend shortly after the spokesperson of the commission, Godfrey Ike, confirmed that the Minister had approved the implementation of the pact.

“The CAC has met the demand as the Minister of Industry has approved the payment for the implementation of the MoU signed by all the parties,” Ike confirmed in a message sent to the Daily Trust.

An indication of worsening impasse between the staff and management, Ike further noted that “instead of opening the gate of the office to allow staff to continue with work (last Friday), they have blocked the gate and came up with another demand.”

At a press conference, the chairman of the union, Ibrahim Kirfi, called for the sack of the management, alleging sleaze and mendacity.

The Union accused the management of contract inflations in state offices, evasion of tax, fraudulent training of members of staff and diversion of funds for personal transactions.

On the new allegations raised by the union, Ike said, “It’s pertinent to state that all procurement issues in the Commission follow due process and this can be verified.