Workers At Atiku Abubakar's Beverage Company Protest |SEE REASON
Afnews Editor
Aug 18, 2020
Workers of Adama Beverages Ltd, a Yola-based company owned by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, are protesting alleged maltreatment by the management of the company.
Adama Beverages Ltd, which produces bottled water and fruit juices, distributes its products under the famous brand, FARO, across Adamawa State and much of the rest of the north.
READ ALSO: I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
The workers, however, massed out Tuesday bearing green leaves and placards, asking that the Indians managing the company should quit.
READ ALSO: "I Can't Help But Love YouÔÇØ, Charly Boy Serenades His Lesbian Daughter, Dewy
"Only Nigerians we needÔÇØ, one of the placards proclaimed.
Another placard reads, "Hadi Must Go.ÔÇØ
READ ALSO: TOP STORY: Abia Has Become The Last Because Of Leadership Deficit - Gen. Ijioma |SEE PHOTOS
Hadi, reporters were told, is the name of a Nigerian management staff of the company said to be in cohort with Indians who run the company to malign the workers on the lower cadres.
READ ALSO: ABIA: Hotel Where Guest Are KILL-ED In Aba Uncovered, Police To Investigate
The lower carder workers who are Nigerians told newsmen that the Indians who are the top managers call the Nigerians monkeys and generally treat them with disdain.
READ ALSO: Sowore's Miscalculation and the Need to beat a Wise Retreat
Our correspondent learnt Tuesday that the protests started on Monday when casual staff reported to work and were told to return home as production had stopped.
READ ALSO: TR0UBLE: Tinubu Doesn't Deserve The Treatment Given To Him By Buhari, Osibanjo - Shettima Bl0ws H0t
Shedding further light on the immediate cause of the workers' protests, the Senior Staff Association of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (FOBTOB) of the company said management erred by not informing the casual workers ahead of time that they would not be needed for now.
READ ALSO: Why El-Rufai Was Returned To ICPC Custody?
Chairman of the association, Mr. Palke Jackson, said, "This is production off-season, so it could be expected that casual staff who do the production could be asked to stop work, jut should have been informed according on time rather than being suddenly asked to stop work.ÔÇØ
READ ALSO: PDP Announces N200,000 Fee for Chairmanship Forms Ahead of Abia LGA Elections
Jackson explained also that even permanent staff joined the workers' protest because eleven of them were issued queries by Management on the accusation that the eleven were instrumental to unautorised meetings.
"We take exception to the queries because, if nothing else, we feel this is not the time to issue query to anybody,ÔÇØ he said.
READ ALSO: Why DSS Released Chiwetalu Agu - Ozekhome |FULL DETAIL
Jackson, however, took exception to the insistence by the protesting junior workers that the Indian managers should quit.
"That's what the junior workers are saying, but we as workers, senior or junior, did not emply the Indians, so we have no standing to ask them to go,ÔÇØ Jackson said.
READ ALSO: I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
The casual workers refused to go home as directed, nor did the permanent staff agree to work; therefore all the workers of the company occupy the main gate of the company, leading to a shutdown of all operations, at least up to Tuesday evening.
READ ALSO: "I Can't Help But Love YouÔÇØ, Charly Boy Serenades His Lesbian Daughter, Dewy
The management staff were not forthcoming when approached by reporters for their side of the workers' protest.
The Group Chief Operating Officer of the company, Mr. Francis Vazheparambil, told newsmen that he had no mandate to speak to them.
READ ALSO: TOP STORY: Abia Has Become The Last Because Of Leadership Deficit - Gen. Ijioma |SEE PHOTOS
SOURCE
Related Stories
REVEALED: How All Progressives Congress (APC) Played Into The Opposition Hands Ahead Of 2027 - Sumner Sambo Warns
I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
Why El-Rufai Was Returned To ICPC Custody?
Sowore's Miscalculation and the Need to beat a Wise Retreat
Tinubu Breaks Silence on Hardship, Inflation, Power Crisis - Vows Nigeria Will Overcome Economic Storm
"Terrorists Have Outgunned Our TroopsÔÇØ - Ndume Raises Alarm Over Boko Haram War, Sends Urgent Message To Tinubu
""
— Afnews Editor