ABEOKUTA–Olamide Babatunde, a victim of Chinese inhuman treatment of workers has narrated how he lost one of his leg and manhood to an avoidable accident in a quarry in Ogun State.
An emotional Olamide, while addressing journalists Friday at a press conference held at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Secretariat in Abeokuta, stated that life has been in the downturn since the accident.
He maintained that having worked as a casual worker for almost 5 years, all he got from the Chinese company was just medical bills payment without adequate compensation for his loss.
” I was in the hospital for almost 4months and they visited me just once. Apart from the hospital bills they settled, I have not heard from them again.
” Whenever we go there, they keep posting me that they will settle me soon. I have lost everything as I cannot impregnate any lady because I lost my manhood to the accident according to the doctors”, Olamide lamented.
Mainwhile, the Nigeria Union of Mine Workers in Ogun state has threatened to shutdown all Chinese Quarry Investments over the inimical activities of their operators in the state for their unjust treatment and violation of right of their workers.
The Union expressed sadness over the unfortunate accident of Olamide Babatunde at one of the quarries in Abeokuta (Multiverse Quarry) where he lost his right leg and manhood while operating one of the machine without necessary PPEs on the 18th of July 2020.
The State Chairman, NUMW, Comrade Fasiu Abiola hinted that the Union had intervened and the company settled Olamide’s hospital bills, but during the course of the treatment, it was discovered that the victim has suffered erectile dysfunction and that had rendered him impotent, apart from permanent disability.
The Mine Workers chairman explained that the union had written a letter requesting for provision of an artificial leg for the victim, completion of the medical treatment, adequate compensation for the victim, up to this moment, he has not been provided with the artificial leg and no compensation has been paid.
Comrade Fasiu therefore said after careful review of the activities of these Chinese companies, the union would use all legitimate labour action to prevent further enslavement.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Labour (NLC), in Ogun State, Comrade Emmanuel Bankole said Chinese investors are adamant in their quest to keep enslaving Nigerians adding that the union has resolved to tackle them, using all necessary labour mechanisms.
