Shoprite protests: Police deploy personnel to Ilorin branch

Date: 2021-04-04

By NAN

The Kwara command of the Nigeria Police Force has deployed some of its personnel to the Ilorin branch of Shoprite, a South African store operating across cities, over continued protests by staff of the grocery shop.

A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the Kwara Mall, housing the store along Fate Road, Ilorin, reports that there was heavy presence of armed police personnel at the edifice amidst shutdown of operations by the staff.

One of the staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, vowed that the protest would continue until their demands were met by the South African company.

The Shoprite staff told NAN that they received an internal memo informing them that the South African company has outrightly sold its write to a Nigerian investor.

"When we were told that the company had been sold and that they sold us with the company, we rejected this approach and asked them to pay us off before the take over is completed.

"They dragged us to labour and we signed an agreement, that on or before March 31, they should agree with the staff or they must not handover.

"Now, they want to use the police to intimidate us, so as to allow them to trade, that cannot be done," the Shoprite staff said.

He explained that they were asking to be paid off because since Shoprite came to Nigeria in 2005, they have been working for the company.

"Some of us have been working since 15 to 10 years with the company, they can't just sell us like that, if the new investor wants to absolve us, they should employ us back.

"They stood that they won't pay us a damn, they said if we refuse to work, they will recruit another staff, South Africa is intimidating us in their country and here in Nigeria again," he added.

He explained that the staff want the South African company to be done with them before they finally handover to the new investors.

"With the contract I signed with Shoprite, I am supposed to retire with them in 2049, I still have about 20 or more years and now you are saying you sold me to someone," he said.

He however said they were yet to meet with the new owners, explaining in clear terms that they don't even know their identity.

The Shoprite staff revealed that the memo they got was that the company has been sold 100 per cent.

The aggrieved staff explained that the handing over was scheduled for April 1, but could not be done because the company failed to keep to their promises.

He said information available to them was that by 9 a.m on Saturday, the police should find a way to allow operations to take place at the store.

NAN reports that the staff carried placards with different inscription asking the company to pay them off while another read "We are not slaves" as they use crane to block the entrance of the store with all the doors shut.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Khairat Gwadabe     Jide Ashonibare     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Omar Bolaji Gambari     Mumeen Lah     Kabir Shagaya     Balogun-Ojomu     Suleiman Alege Kuranga     Yakub Lai Gobir     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     Patigi Regatta     Umar Danladi Shero     Code Of Conduct Bureau     Aliyu Kora-Sabi     Mohammed Ajia Ibrahim     Salary     Abegunde Goke     Omoniyi M. Ayinla     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Offa     MINILS     Senate President     Bello Abubakar     Peter Amogbonjaye     Olatunji Bamgbola     Balogin Alanamu     Sa\'adu Salau     Opolo Global Innovation Limited     Owo Isowo     Ahmed Alhasssan     Yahya Mohammed     Post-utme     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Saadu Alanamu     New Model Police Station     Garuba Alikinla Shittu     Saidu Yaro Musa     Yoruba     Vasolar Consortium     Dauda Adesola     Government High School (GHS), Adeta     Haliru Yahaya     Nurudeen Mohammed     Muhammad Fawaz Abubakar     Ahmed Idris Mohammed     Yusuf Ali     Alliance For Democracy     Yekeen Alabi     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     Razak Atunwa     Saheed Alakoso     Olaitan Buraimoh     Ajasse-Ipo     Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola     07039448763     Seed Technologies     Musa Yeketi     Kamaldeen Ajibade     Ilesha-Gwanara     Press Release     AbdulHakeem Ajibola Akanbi     Aminu Adisa Logun     Raji AbdulRasaq     Monthly Sanitation Exercise     National Union Of Road Transport Workers     Durbar Festival     Azeez Salawu     Ndama Al-hassan     Soffiyyallah Kamaldeen     Olayinka Olaogun     Tafidan Kaiama     Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet     Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State     Ademola Kiyesola     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     Aliyu Muyideen    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Ayoade Akinnibosun     Nigeria Customs Service     African Democratic Congress     Isiaka Abdulrazak     Patience Jonathan     Olaiya Lawal     Iyeru Grammar School     Orisun Igbomina     Nigerian Correctional Service     Ilorin Airport     Oluwatoyin Lukman     Lanre Badmus     Ibrahim Issa Jetti     Abioye Bello     Olawuyi     Saliu Mustapha     IESA     Mohammed Haruna     Jimoh Saadudeen Muhammed     James Ayeni     Suleiman Mora Omar     Bolaji Gambari     Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund     Shuaib Boni Aliyu     Ahmad Lawan     Mohammed Halidu     Lanre Aremu     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Kwara-SAPZ Project     Lateef Alagbonsi     Ishola Abdullahi     MATTA Girls Foundation     Kupchi Hosea Maxwell     Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board     QuickWin     Baba Issa Awoye     Iponrin     Olabode George Towoju     Lanre Issa Onilu     Garba Ado Sanni     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     Joseph Daudu     Yusuf A. Usman     Olaitan Adefila     Alaro     Donatus Ejidike     Sa\'ad Alanamu     Royal FM     Kayode Ogunlowo     Kale Belgore     Yomi Adeboye     Taofik Abiodun Ahmed     Frootify     Salaudeen Oyewale     Issa Memunat Moyosore     Ibrahim Abdullahi     Okin Group     Igosun     Ahmed Bayero     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Kwara State Fire Service     Kanu Agabi     Halidu Danbaba     Galadiman Ngeri     Ilorin Descendants Progressive Union     Abubakar Ndakene     Sunday Popo-Ola     Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq     Ilorin West     Bureau Of Lands     Ajibike Katibi     S.O. Opowoye     Oyedepo     Babata     Abdulganiyu Salahudeen     Sheriff Shagaya     Anilelerin