Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has paid sweepers working with Lagos Waste Management Authority their April salaries.
In the payment, coordinated by Mrs. Ola Williams, popularly known as Iron Lady, and witnessed by our correspondent, the sweepers, who had earlier protested over non-payment of their salaries, appreciated the state governor.
They also implored the state government to step up the prompt payment of their outstanding salaries.
“We appreciate the governor for this April salary and we are also using this medium to inform him that the payment of our salary should always come promptly because most of us are widows with no other means to survive,” Mrs. Sharon, a sweeper said.
Meanwhile, Williams has cleared the air on allegations that she has been swindling the state government over the LAWMA contract.
She said the news in the media listing her among the contractors that defrauded the government was far from the truth, adding that the ongoing auditing by the state government would reveal the truth.
She, however, claimed that the story was the handiwork of her antagonists within the government.
She said, “My attention has been drawn to allegations and propaganda going on in some media that I defrauded the state government by swindling sweepers’ money.
“To set the record straight, I would like to let you know that nothing of such has ever happened. This is nothing but an attempt to tarnish my image by my antagonists in the government. As a matter of fact and for reference purpose, this contract was a way to compensate myself and widows that worked tirelessly during the last elections. And when we were going through hell, nobody came to compete with us, but now that we were given the contract, they have started peddling undue rumour.”
Williams added, “However, whoever that says I swindle the state government should bring out evidence. I have the record of all the sweepers under me here. Let the auditors proceed on their works for verification purpose. And I will appreciate the auditors go to the portions of the sweepers during their working hours which is between 7am and 1pm.”
On the recent protest over non -payment of sweepers’ salary, Williams said the protest was done without her prior notice, adding that the protesters had been cautioned.
She, however, implored the state government to keep up with prompt payment of the sweepers’ salaries.
Meanwhile, a source within the LAWMA office said that Williams’ ordeal was orchestrated by some forces in the agency who were not pleased with her getting the contract.
It was also learnt that audited reports provided to implicate her was falsified to create commotion in the agency.
“The commotion was created by some forces in the agency. They felt the woman was getting too much, so, they have to deal with her. The claimed audited report was forged to implicate her. Let proper auditing be done and truth be unveiled. As a matter of fact, some of the routes they claimed belong to this woman were assigned to some party leaders and traditional rulers,” the source claimed.
Some of the sweepers, who spoke with our correspondent, said their conditions became worse with the new management under Mr Ibrahim Odumboni.
They alleged that Ibrahim was planning to ease Williams out of the contract in order to give the contract to his people.
Meanwhile, all efforts to speak with Ibrahim over the allegation was unsuccessful as calls put through to his mobile phones received no response.
