The retired managing director has faced backlash after unlawfully blocking the salary of Mr. Sebastian Achibase, the engineer of the company, for the past two months. Following this incident, the General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) has appealed to the minister for intervention.
Farmers and members of ICOUR have demonstrated demanding the removal of Dr. Benedict Bonaventure Aligebam, who has been retired since last year but has refused to hand over his responsibilities despite calls from his superiors. According to Adams Jibril, the GAWU chairman, Dr. Aligebam continues to exercise administrative powers, including validating staff payments, which has led to intimidation among employees.
Disgruntled staff and farmers have accused Dr. Aligebam of signing company cheques without consulting any staff members. They urge that he be stopped immediately, as his divisive tactics have hampered the company’s effectiveness. “With all humility, we appeal to you, sir, that Dr. Aligebam should be stopped from signing cheques and spending company money. His role as chief validator of workers’ salaries should also be blocked, as he has used it to bully workers. Finally, Mr. Sebastian Achibase’s salary, which was unlawfully blocked by Dr. Aligebam, should be restored,” Jibril stated.
The concerns extend to Dr. Aligebam’s inability to collaborate effectively with key stakeholders, leading to harassment of farmers, victimization of workers, and a lack of adherence to established systems. His actions have resulted in frequent confrontations, a lack of leadership and team-building skills, and a persistent cash flow crisis for the company.
GAWU members and farmers from the irrigation dam reiterated the issues within ICOUR, noting that there is no provision for post-retirement contracts in the Senior Staff Conditions of Service (CoS) or the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). This raises questions about Dr. Aligebam’s continued presence in the office, as he relies heavily on internal funds generated by his colleagues, which has led the company into a crisis while neglecting the needs of farmers, who are key stakeholders.
“The farmers are suffering harassment, the workers are experiencing victimization and divisiveness, and even the most senior officer, Mr. Peter Agao, is facing humiliation under Dr. Aligebam’s leadership,” they expressed.
In conclusion, the workers assured that they are committed to performing their duties to the best of their abilities and in partnership with the farmers to ensure that the government’s objectives for investing in ICOUR are met. The company’s growth and development are currently in limbo due to Dr. Aligebam’s continued stay in office, which has strained relationships with all stakeholders.
They pledged to support the board in resolving this matter once and for all.
Source: mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Ayuureneeya