The Lagos State government has uncovered an 86-room under bridge apartment in the Ikoyi Area of the state, where tenants pay as much as N250,000 annually as rent, per room.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State, Tokunbo Wahab, made the disclosure in text and video clips on his verified X handle on Wednesday.

He revealed that the apartment is under the Dolphin Estate Bridge, Ikoyi, and has 86 partitioned rooms, sized “10×10 and 12×10”.

According to Wahab the enforcement team of Lagos State’s Ministry of Environment and Water Resources had successfully removed all structures, including a container utilised for various illegal activities, from beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge.

He wrote, “A total number of 86 rooms, partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10, and a container used for different illegal activities were discovered under the Dolphin Estate Bridge.

“They have all been removed by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.”

A Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, shed more light on the matter.

He gave kudos to the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, also known as KAI for the feat, who cleared up the mess on Tuesday, arresting some of people in the process.

Rotimi-Akodu, who also shared text and video clips of the development, wrote, “Squatters dwelling under the bridge leading from inward Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi were evicted today Tuesday, 30th of April, 2024 by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps LAGESC (aka KAI).

“These people created their illegal settlement under the bridge, thereby exposing the critical infrastructure to impending destruction. 23 persons have so far been arrested and MoE/KAI will continue to monitor the place. The law will take its course.”

He also confirmed that the bridge has hitherto housed 86 rooms, partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10 with squatters paying an average rent of N250,000 per annum.

“Continuation of the removal of abode under Dolphin bridge. 11 more persons were arrested. It is important to note that wood materials were used to construct the shelters, some occupants used gas cylinders, and some had stored fuel for their generators, these are recipes for disaster,” he added.

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, flaunting his records on labour matters as confirmation of his genuine love for workers.

He was addressing the May Day rally in Osogbo, and pointed out that his government had paid over Two Billion Naira in palliative wage award to public servants and pensioners.

He said, “You have in me and my team fellow comrades who are determined to give workers the best of work environment and attractive incentives.

“We are a government that walks the talk in terms of labour friendly policies and programmes. Our leadership is by all accounts, for the labour, by the labour and of the labour movement.

“We all know it has never happened for a political party to place workers’ welfare as the first item on its manifesto for the state. Our party and government made a conscious decision to place workers at the core of our governance agenda.”

According to the State Governor, the decision to have workers’ welfare as number one agenda was borne out of “the top notch value we place on the workforce as the engine room of government.

“As a fellow Comrade, I need no convincing to accept and implement a series of policies and programmes favorable to the labour movement”, Governor Adeleke said.

He thanked the labour movement for appreciating the records of achievements of his administration.

“I commend you for the award you gave me, especially the grade A marks you awarded me on several aspects of workers’ welfare and promotion.

“I look back to what we met on the ground in November 2022 and I am proud to declare that I have kept faith with our promises, plans and agenda for our workers”, the Governor added.

He listed his achievements in the labour sector, which he said are numerous.

On the current fuel scarcity, Governor Adeleke said the state Taskforce on petroleum products has deployed monitoring teams to ensure that fuel hoarding is stopped as supply increases.

On current food inflation, the Governor said his government is working to create special food marts across the state, adding that “such centers will sell food items at controlled prices to address the current high level of food inflation

He however warned public servants against violation of the official secret act, adding “we must stop divulging official documents and promising to sanction any official caught in this condemnable act”

On his part, the Chairman of the Osun State Council, Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Abimbola Arapasopo commended the State Governor for his landmark achievements in support of workers, confirming that “Osun Workers have never have it so good”.

He used the occasion to submit a list of demands to the State Governor, adding, “We are Oliver Twist asking for more.”

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi; the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina; members of the State Executive Council; Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Honourable Tunji Adeleke; and other state officials.

Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has announced a new minimum monthly wage of N40,000 for the state’s lowest-paid workers, up from N30,000.

The governor made this declaration during his address to workers at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Workers’ Day.

According to Otu, the wage increase is a response to current economic conditions and the limited federal allocations received by the state, rather than a sentimental decision.

Despite acknowledging the state’s industrial output as “very poor” at 5%, the governor expressed his administration’s appreciation for the workers’ efforts.

He said, “Government considers its workforce as the driver of lofty projects and programmes for the common good of the people. Workers in the State are always held in high esteem to achieve good results, which reason  prompt payment of salary and pension has been up to date.”

“The State Government is presently on the verge of concluding necessary arrangements for the staggered payment of outstanding gratuity to its retired workers. I therefore sue for a little patience from the pensioners in this regard.”

Additionally, the Organised Labour in Cross River State has criticized the state government, alleging neglect and deceit.

They are demanding open recruitment to fill vacant positions with qualified youths.

According to Comrade Monday Ogolodom, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the government failed to deliver on its promise to clear the backlog of gratuities owed to senior citizens since 2013, deceiving them.

Addressing workers, Ogolodom said, “Payment of gratuity in the state has become a mirage. I recall on the 4 of October, 2023, during the swearing-in of the Head of Service, Innocent Eteng, His Excellency, the  Governor made a very welcoming, sweet and promising speech, saying “before the end of December, 2023 all backlog of Gratuity in the state shall be cleared”.

“Today is 1″ May 2024, 4 (four) months after, nothing has started”, adding that this has portrayed the governor in bad light and appealed to him to set up machinery towards actualizing the promise  as some of our elder statesmen and women were dying due to lack of funds for medications.

He claims that bribery for promotion has become widespread, which is demotivating for hardworking and qualified employees.

He also expressed frustration with the prolonged verification exercise aimed at eliminating ghost workers, which has delayed long-overdue promotions for deserving workers.

Furthermore, Ogolodom criticized the government’s secretive recruitment practices, urging them to conduct open and official recruitment exercises instead.