Exploitation of workers: Senate summons immigration, Julius Berger, others

Posted by admin Headlines, Legislature, Senate Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Worried by the alleged indiscriminate use of expatriate quota and exploitation of Nigerian workers, the Senate, on Wednesday, summoned the construction giant, Julius Berger, Chinese firms and others.

The invitees, who would appear next week, will also explain how they have been exploring Nigeria’s natural resources without paying compensation.

The chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi, who disclosed this during a meeting with the FCT officials, condemned the importation of Chinese, Indian and German expatriates to man positions that could be adequately handled by Nigerians.

According to him, “why should a Nigerian construction worker be paid N8,000 monthly, when the minimum salary in this country is at N18,000 per month. A Chinese, Indian or German counterparts are paid in dollars.”

Senator Adeyemi frowned at a situation whereby construction firms crushed stones in the country without paying any form of compensation to the government, noting that all these materials were detailed in the contract agreement and, therefore, should be paid for.

He showed displeasure at some of the foreign firms that imported materials that could be manufactured in the country, saying that “how can you explain the importation of electric poles which can be made easily at Aba in Abia State or the importation of an Indian who is working as messenger in an Indian hospital, when there are thousands of Nigerians who can do the same job even better?”

Senator Adeyemi also said “we have to gradually develop our people by empowering them” and he threatened to terminate the contract of any contractors caught in the act of importing materials that are found in the country or importing expatriates for a job that could easily be done by Nigerians.

-Tribunewp_posts