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.

IHS     Imam Gambari     Usman Rifun     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita     JMK Construction Company Limited     Raliat Elelu-Habeeb     Busari Toyin Isiaka     Coalition Of Kwara North Groups     Pius Abioje     Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence     Trader Moni     Hussein Olokooba     Old Oyo     George Innih     Baba Isale     Muhammed Aliyu     Jimoh Saadudeen Muhammed     Abdulmumini Sanni Jawondo     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Maryam A. Garuba     Agbarere     Abdulfatai Salman Baakini     Taibat Ayinke Ahmed     Hauwa Nuru     Ahman Pategi University     Shehu Alimi Foundation     Christian Association Of Nigeria     Abdullateef Abdussalam     Ohoro Of Shao     Adewuyi Funmilayo     Saudat Abdulbaqi     Ojo Fadumila     Otunba Taiwo Joseph     Just Event Online     Musa Yeketi     Tafida Of Kaiama     Baba Idris     Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani     Mogaji Aare     Abdulrahman Iliasu     Balogun-Ojomu     Arik     National Information Technology Development Agency     Sidikat Uthman Ajibola     Ibrahim Abdulqadir Abikan     March 18     Jimba Babatunde     Tunji Oyawoye     Ayo Salami     ITEM 7     Kola Adesina     Peter Obi     Jebba     Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola     Sulyman Atolagbe Alege     Mohammed Khadijat Kubura     Mahee Abdulkadir     Ishak Mohammed Sabi     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Oya State     Federal Allocation     Raliat AbdulRazaq     Seni Saraki     Ahmad Ali     Abdulrauf Yusuf     Wahab Abayawo     Zara Umar     Dunmade     Saidu Isa     Aminu Ado Bayero     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     HYPPADEC     Kwara 2019     Rachael Obisesan    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Garment Factory     Bayo Ojo     Federal Road Maintenance Agency     Ope Saraki     Offa Descendants Union     Oloje     College Of Health     Emir Of Kano     Tafida Of Kaiama     Isin     Seun Bolaji     Dan Masanin     Sola Saraki University     Mustapha AbdulGaniyu     Halidu Danbaba     Ilorin Metro Park     Kazeem Gbolagade     Tuesday Assayomo     Bankole Omisore     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     Unicontinental Construction Company     Abdulrasheed Akogun     Ahmed     FOMWAN     Matthew Babaoye     Edret Sabi Abel     ASKOMP     Umar Adelodun     Saliu Oluwole     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     Students Union Government     Suleiman Ajadi     Ishola Balogun Fulani     Abdullahi Atanda     BECE     Oyelere Oyinloye     Oyedepo     Apaokagi     Towoju     Jimoh Akani     Ganmo     Hikmah AbdulKareem     Rex Olawoye     Clara Nwachukwu     Bashirat Bola Bello     Abdulfatai Salman Baakini     Elesie Of Esie     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence     Amusa Bello     Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq     Aliyu Muhammad Saifudeen     Musa Alhassan Buge     Ibrahim Oniye     Umar Yakubu Jaja     Assayomo     Afolayan     Alapado     National Broadcasting Commission     Bolaji Nagode     Yusuf Abdulwahab     Afonja     Kwara State Sports Commission     Kemi Adeosun     Buari Edun     Quarry Royal Valley     Ayedun     Funmi Salau     Omu-aran     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Islamic Development Bank     Saliu Ajibola Ajia     Lanre Badmus     Mazars Consulting     Tunde Saad     Ronke Adeyemi     Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi