Workers of ECTS protest non-remittance of pensions in Edo

Activities were grounded on Monday at the Edo City Transport Service (ECTS) following a protest by staff over alleged non-remittance of their contributory pension funds to the appropriate authorities.

The staff who barricaded the ever-busy Ramat Park, Aduwawa-Agbor road, also demanded the sacking of Edugie Agbonlahor, the managing director of the state-owned transport company.

The protesting staff, who abandoned their responsibilities, invaded the Edo State Government House in several buses belonging to the company to register their displeasure. The workers also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the state governor, Godwin Obaseki and the state Commissioner of Police, to invite the MD for questioning.

Spokesperson of the aggrieved workers, Abudu Braimah, alleged that the managing director of the company has refused to remit their contributory pension funds to their pension fund administrator.

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Braimah, who said the company had been deducting from their monthly salaries since 2017, noted that the future looks bleak for them on retirement with the non-remittance of the pension funds.

“Since 2017, the managing of the company had been deducting from our monthly salaries as a pension fund but refused to remit the money to the appropriate authority.

“Till date, the company owes us over N360 million. She should pay us. We are calling on the EFCC, we are calling on the governor, we are calling on the Edo State Commissioner of Police to invite her.

“Why must she not remit our money? She wants to kill us, she wants to kill our future,” he said.

He also accused the managing director of the company of casualisation of staff, non-promotion of staff as and when due, and owing of workers two months’ salaries.