3 Injured As NLC Pickets Lower Niger River Basin Authority In Kwara

At least three staff members of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA), Ilorin, were hospitalised yesterday after a disruption of the agency’s activities by members of the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Employees (NUAAE).

Led by officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kwara State, members of the NUAAE had staged a protest against the authority’s management over allegations of high-handedness and the absence of workers’ welfare.

The protesting workers reportedly attacked certain staff, inflicting various degrees of injuries on them.

A viral video showed that the NLC chairman in the state, Comrade Saheed Murtala, led other officials in a picket of the Authority.

The protesting workers carried placards with inscriptions such as “no to victimisation of LNRBDA”, “allow the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President to work in LNRBDA”.

Reacting to the development, the managing director of LNRBDA, Olushola George Olumoroti, said that three members of the Authority were hospitalised after receiving severe beating from the protesting union members.

Olumoroti, who described the disturbance as a violent attack and not a protest, made available a video of the incident to journalists.

According to him, the crisis stemmed from disciplinary actions initiated against a union member over alleged gross misconduct and non-remittance of government revenue.

He said that, upon assuming office in April 2025, management reviewed records and disciplinary reports as part of efforts to align the Authority with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He explained that previous management had established disciplinary committees to investigate allegations that the union leader had diverted government revenue, issued IOUs, and engaged in unauthorised financial transactions.

Olumoroti said the committees found the union leader and four others culpable and recommended sanctions, including the refund of unaccounted funds, warning letters, and dismissal, for alleged gross misconduct and corrupt practices.

He added that the recommendations were later reviewed and upheld by another committee and, subsequently, by the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee, with representatives from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

Olumoroti said the affected officers were denied promotion in line with public service rules pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings.

He, however, said he personally appealed to the Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Utsev, to temper justice with mercy by commuting the recommended dismissal to lesser sanctions similar to those given to the other affected officers.

According to him, the minister approved the appeal, directing the leader to refund unaccounted funds, accept a warning letter and submit an undertaking of good conduct.

He said that while other affected officers complied and returned to duty, the union leader allegedly rejected the clemency and petitioned the minister, claiming that documentary evidence used against him had been forged.

Olumoroti said the allegation prompted the minister to direct a fresh investigation through a special disciplinary committee inaugurated last Wednesday.

He alleged that the violent disturbance was aimed at disrupting the committee’s work and frustrating ongoing reforms within the Authority.

“This is a case of corruption fighting back. We are introducing reforms, accountability and discipline into the system, and some persons are resisting change,” he said.

Olumoroti further alleged that some workers invaded the premises with weapons, assaulted staff and breached security within the Authority.

He said members of another union resisted the disruption, insisting they were at work and not part of the protest.