Former workers of Adapalm who were owed benefits and salaries since 2012 under the administration of Senator Rochas Okorocha are now heaving a sigh of relief as Governor Hope Uzodimma led Shared Prosperity Government in partnership with the new management of Adapalm: Roche Agric West Africa, has begun the disbursement of money to the patiently waiting workers of the rich palm plantation.
The Adapalm workers since 2012 have intensified agitations for these allowances and salaries via legal actions as the Rochas Okorocha’s led Rescue Mission Government allegedly played pranks on them, thereby leaving the workers and management of Adapalm to a legal war.
This measure by the Joint Committee set up by Imo State Government to objectively, closely look into the demands of the workers has abruptly brought the lingering administrative crisis at Adapalm to a hut. Interestingly, workers who lost their lives during the hit of the struggle will also be paid posthumously through their families.
Addressing the former workers, Chairman of the Joint Committee and former Transition Committee Chairman of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, Hon. Gideon Meffor, appreciated the workers for their understanding and patience, maintaining that Roche Agric West Africa has resolved to settle the backlog of their severance benefits and outstanding salaries, decrying the level of damage done to Adapalm and its workers by the Rochas Okorocha’s led Rescue Mission Administration.
According to Meffor, the committee has begun the “disbursement of the over N500 million severance benefits and salaries to the former workers of Adapalm after thorough verification of which those who lost their lives during the struggle are beneficiaries through their families. The Shared Prosperity Government championed by Governor Hope Uzodimma through the Local Content Act will work in synergy with Roche Agric West Africa to employ members of the host communities, as well as old workers of Adapalm who are willing to work for the company in line with the agreement of host communities who are stakeholders of Adapalm”.
Reacting, Chairman of Adapalm Workers Union, Hon. Collins Meffor, eulogized the investors of Roche Agric West Africa for their commitment, sincerity in paying Adapalm workers their severance benefits and salaries, a feat he said will remain green in the minds of beneficiaries, stressing that the previous administration neglected, politicized the positive demands of the workers, pledging their unalloyed support to the management of Adapalm and Imo State Government.
In their separate remarks, some of the former workers of Adapalm who did not want their names in print for obvious reasons, stated that their ordeal in the hands of Senator Rochas Okorocha and his allies who they accused of refusing to pay them their severance benefits and salaries since 2012 was devastating, regretting that the former Governor heartlessly subjected them from one verification exercise to another without any valid result or payment until he left office.
The former workers did not mince their words as they called on Imo State Government to set politics aside to revamp Adapalm so that more revenues would be generated for even development of the state, meeting peoples welfare and wellbeing. They also appealed for quick reconstruction of Avu, Etekuru, Adapalm Road for easy accessibility to the Rich Palm Plantation and the host communities of Ohaji, Egbema and Oguta.
