Following the allegation of inhuman treatment, evasion of taxes accrued to the Abia state government by the Inner Galaxy Steel Company, situated in Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state, a public hearing has been held to ascertain the true position of the matter.
Speaking on the Occasion held at the Aguiyi Ironsi Conference Centre, Umuahia,the Chairman of the Panel of Inquiry set up by the Government and Commissioner for Industry, Mrs Uwaoma Olewangwa, said that the Committee was instituted not to probe the company but to find out what really happened between the workers and their employers, so that the government would know where to come in.
According to her, the committee is on a fact finding mission aimed at correcting any form of anomalies, without any plan of being impunitive.
Mrs Olewangwa stated that the committee would ensure all the parties involved in the matter were given fair and adequate hearing on the issue, thereby, enjoining those involved in the matter to come forward and present their case to the Committee so as to assist them in finding out the truth behind the alleged inhuman treatment being metted to the staff of the firm.
The chairman, however, disclosed that the Committee would visit the firm at an undisclosed date to interview some of the staff in order to uncover the true state of the matter.
Interacting with newsmen,the member representing Ukwa West State Constituency in the Abia House of Assembly, Hon Godwin Adiele, noted that the Abia State Government was not in any way trying to scare foreign investors away, but to ensure that the welfare of workers working in these private firms are adequately protected, adding that from the hearing, the committee have been able to narrow their findings to three issues; Staff welfare, Strategies for waste management by the company and how they are handling the Local Content Law of the Federal Government.He stated that if these issues are properly handled, the problem would be resolved.
The Lead Counsel to the Firm,Inner Galaxy Steel, Barrister Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe, said that the firm had not and would not in any way maltreat its staff.
According to him,the allegations levelled against the company were all lies,as the company did not abandon or sack anyone worker without compensation.He said ordinarily, no one would be outraged by the incident of one’s toes being cut off, because it is a Steel rolling mill and there are bound to be industrial accidents.
Ahaaiwe noted that the company knowing its mode of operation,had already built and furnished a hospital on site, with qualified doctors and nurses, depending on the nature of the injury and if it can’t be handled, the staff would be taken to one of the best hospitals in Portharcourt.
He revealed that the staff whose leg was crushed was already treated with the sum of #1.9million in the Portharcourt hospital.
On the issue of molestation and sexual harassment,the Lead counsel said nothing of such occurred, as there was no name of the person harrassed or the person harassing.
Ahaaiwe further frowned at the alleged staff hostage, saying that there was no way the company would hold staff hostage, because the site was a mini city with business activities at it’s peak, stating that even when the restriction was lifted a month ago, some staff still refused to go home, because they were being given free meals, free accomodation,health care and over time allowances.
He further asked, how over 1000 staff would be held by only 20 Chinese.
Reacting to the issue of evasion of taxes accrued to the state government,the Lead Counsel to the company, stated that the company was up to date with its tax payments.
According to him,the company pays its taxes to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, as a Limited Liability Company, while they make P.A.Y.E. tax to the state government, adding that other levies like the ASEPA levy are being paid on notice and there was no allegation that the company refused to pay these levies.
He,however,pointed out that all the welfare and salary of the staff of the company were being given to them as and at when due.
Also, one of the medical personnel in the firm, Dr Reginald Oparaocha,debunked the allegations outrightly, stating that no issue of hostage, molestation or inhuman treatment was metted on anyone.
The panel has less than two weeks to submit its report to the Governor of the State,Dr Victor Okezie Ikpeazu.
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