[dropcap]A[/dropcap] street sweeper employed by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has called for urgent intervention over poor working conditions, unpaid wages, and excessive salary deductions.
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In a viral video, where she named the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin and the Head of Public Affairs, Folashade Kadiri, the worker expressed frustration over the disparity between the promised salary increase of ₦85,000 in August 2024 and actual payments ranging from ₦30,000 to ₦40,000, with unexplained deductions.
She also accused LAWMA of reducing the ₦25,000 presidential wage allowance approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ₦10,000, with irregular payments.
Additionally, she highlighted the lack of essential work tools, forcing workers to buy their own brooms for ₦1,000 each, without any allowances.
The worker pointed out the stark contrast between the benefits enjoyed by LAWMA executives and the struggles of street sweepers.
“While office staff receive food, transport, and medical allowances, we, who risk our lives daily, get nothing,” she lamented.
She warned that if sweepers went on strike for three days, Lagos would plunge into filth and chaos.
LAWMA, in an official statement, defended its operations, stating that sweepers are employed by private contractors responsible for their wages.
The agency claimed that wages had been reviewed, with sweepers earning ₦40,000 and supervisors ₦50,000 for four-hour daily shifts.
LAWMA also highlighted welfare initiatives, including health and safety training, accident insurance, reclassified sweeping routes for security, and the provision of uniforms and work tools.
However, a worker’s daughter, speaking anonymously to Freelanews, refuted some of LAWMA’s claims.
According to her, conditions under LAWMA are worse than during the previous Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI), introduced by former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
“Under CLI, they provided boots, gloves, packers, and road safety signs. LAWMA only gives uniforms and tells them to buy their own tools.
“There’s no Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). When my mum’s colleague had an accident, LAWMA told her to pay for treatment herself. Two sisters even died due to a reckless driver, and their families got nothing.”
She also criticized LAWMA’s salary payment structure:
“They don’t pay at the end of the month. If it’s not the 15th of the following month, sweepers won’t get their wages.”
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Despite LAWMA’s claims of financial adjustments and welfare improvements, these testimonies reveal ongoing challenges, suggesting the agency needs to do more to improve worker conditions and support.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
