At least three employees of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Ilorin, were on Monday hospitalised, resulting from a violent disruption of activities by members of the unions in the establishment.

The National Union of Agricultural and Allied Employees had staged a protest against the agency’s management over alleged high-handedness and the absence of ‘workers’ welfare.

The unionists, who picketed the agency’s premises, reportedly attacked workers.

The management, led by managing director George Olumoroti, disclosed that the police and the State Security Service were called in to restore normalcy.

Mr Olumoroti told journalists that three members of the authority were hospitalised after receiving severe beating from the protesting unionists. He described the disturbance as a violent attack and not a protest.

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

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

He explained that previous management had set up disciplinary committees to investigate allegations against a union leader regarding the alleged diversion of government revenue, unretired IOUs, and unauthorised financial transactions.

Mr Olumoroti said that the committees found the union leader and four others culpable, recommending sanctions, including the refund of unaccounted funds, issuance of warning letters, and dismissal for alleged gross misconduct and corrupt practices.

He added that the recommendations were later reviewed and upheld by another committee and, subsequently, by the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee, with representatives from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

Mr Olumoroti said the affected officers were denied promotion in line with public service rules pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings. The managing director, however, said he personally appealed to the water resources minister, Joseph Utsev, to temper justice with mercy by commuting Mr Raji’s recommended dismissal to lesser sanctions similar to those given to the other affected officers.

According to him, the minister approved the appeal, directing Mr Raji to refund unaccounted funds, accept a warning letter and submit an undertaking of good conduct.

He said that while 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.

Mr Olumoroti said the allegation prompted the minister to direct 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.

Mr Olumoroti further alleged that some workers invaded the premises with weapons, assaulted members of staff 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.

(NAN)