Kwara: Workers’ protest turns violent at lower Niger River Basin authority

Olushola George Olumoroti, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA), has described Monday’s protest by members of the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Employees (NUAAE) as a violent attack rather than a peaceful demonstration.

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

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

He explained that the previous management had constituted disciplinary committees to investigate allegations against the union leader, including alleged diversion of government revenue, unretired IOUs, and unauthorised financial transactions involving his wife, who is not a staff member of the authority.

The managing director noted that the committees found the union leader and four others culpable and recommended sanctions, including refund of unaccounted funds, issuance of warning letters, and dismissal over alleged gross misconduct and corrupt practices.

He added that the recommendations were subsequently reviewed and upheld by another committee, as well as the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee, which included representatives of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

Olumoroti stated that 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, Joseph Utsev, to temper justice with mercy by reducing the recommended dismissal to lesser sanctions similar to those imposed on the other affected officers.

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

He said that while the 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 explained that the allegation prompted the minister to order 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 members, 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.

The managing director maintained that the management would not tolerate acts of violence or intimidation, adding that all staff members must operate within public service rules and extant laws.

At least three staff members of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA), Ilorin, were reportedly hospitalised following the violent disruption of activities by members of the NUAAE.

It was gathered that members of the union had earlier staged a protest against the management of the authority over allegations of high-handedness and poor workers’ welfare.

The protesting union members were alleged to have attacked staff members, inflicting varying degrees of injuries, while the management, led by Olumoroti, reportedly lodged complaints with the Kwara State Commissioner of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Olumoroti said three members of staff of the authority were hospitalised after allegedly receiving severe beatings from the protesting union members.