By Adepote Arowojobe

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Chapter, has urged Spring Seedfeed Company, Ikorodu, to compensate its staff, Mr Adekunle Aliamin, whose hand was chopped off during production at work.

The state Chairman, Mrs Funmi Sessi, made the call while picketing the company on Monday in Lagos.

Spring Seedfeed company produces animal feed, especially for dogs.

Sessi said that the incident occurred in 2021, when the 21-year-old worker, who was employed as a supervisor, was involved in a factory accident.

“The victim is yet to receive any compensation from the company’s management and this necessitated the picketing exercise which took place today.

“Aliamin’s mother had spent her fortune to get the hand amputated but the boy had since been neglected by the management and the owner of the company.

“The company has contravened safety standards and this may endanger the lives of other workers if care is not taken,” Sessi said.

According to her, the company produces animal feeds and the practice was that after producing the feeds, the production workers must switch off the machine and manually mop the remnants.

The chairman said that a co-worker had switched on the machine while Aliamin was on duty.

“Immediately, the owner of the factory was alerted, but the company could not provide an ambulance to take the worker to the hospital not minding that he had lost a lot of blood.

“Sympathisers in the neighbourhood rallied round the worker and hired a tricycle for him which took him to three hospitals where he was rejected.

“He was later taken to Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital, Yaba, where the doctor on duty noticed that the hand had been mulled and the best option was to amputate the hand for the boy to regain his consciousness.

“The Doctor recommended nine pints of blood to resuscitate the man, who was lying unconscious at that time.”

“The boy was working with the company to raise money for admission into higher institution of learning; unfortunately, the accident occurred.

“All efforts to get the company’s attention were unsuccessful as the boy’s mother could not afford to get a lawyer.

“The future of the boy matters to us and that is why we are here to take over the company until the owner is ready to compensate the victim,“ she added.

One of the workers who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it had been a recurring issue with the company as the owner was not concerned about workers’ welfare, but profit.

“Till now, salaries are being owed by the company; we have a branch at Sabo market where condition of service is also worse.”

Meanwhile, several calls placed to and text messages sent to the owner of the company, one Mrs Seriki, proved abortive as none was responded to. (NAN)