Kwara: Lower Niger River Basin Devt MD Calls Violent Picketing Action ‘Diversionary Tactic’, Vows To Sustain Fight Against Corruption, Indiscipline

Engineer George Olumoroti, who is the Managing Director of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA), Ilorin, Kwara State, submitted on Monday evening that the violent picketing action that happened at the government agency earlier in the day is unnecessary .

He also condemned those who carried out the picketing action for going beyond peaceful persuasion to using intimidation and physical force to prevent workers from carrying out their duties.

The violent picketing action carried out by members of the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Employees (NUAAE) reportedly left at least three staff of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA), Ilorin injured and hospitalized.

While members of the NUAAE had raised allegations of high-handedness and poor welfare, they also reportedly attacked staff which made them sustain varying degrees of injuries.

The management had consequently contacted the state Commissioner of Police and head of the Directorate of state Security (DSS) in the state and sought their intervention to restore normalcy. 

Talking to journalists including Team@orientactualmags.com on Monday evening, Engineer George Olumoroti said the three injured staff were hospitalized after receiving serious beating from the protesting union members. 

The Managing Director however clarified and asserted that the violent picketing action was a diversionary tactic cognizant that a member of the union is currently facing a disciplinary action having been accused of gross misconduct and non-remittance of government revenue.

The current management, he noted, had in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda reviewed records and disciplinary reports upon assumption of office in April 2025.

He explained that previous management had set up disciplinary committees to investigate allegations against the union leader over alleged diversion of government revenue, unretired IOUs and unauthorised financial transactions involving his wife, who is not a staff member of the agency.

The Managing Director said the committees found the union leader and four others culpable, recommending sanctions, including refund of unaccounted funds, warning letters and dismissal over alleged gross misconduct and corrupt practices.

He added that the recommendations were later reviewed and upheld by another committee and subsequently by the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee with representatives from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

Olumoroti said the affected officers were denied promotion in line with public service rules pending the conclusion of disciplinary hearings.

He, however, said he personally appealed to the Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Utsev to temper justice with mercy by changing the recommended dismissal to lesser sanctions similar to those given to the other affected officers.

According to him, the minister agreed to do this and consequently directed the affected person to refund unaccounted funds, accept a warning letter and submit a letter of undertaking that he will be of good conduct.

He said while other affected officers complied and returned to duty, the union leader allegedly rejected the clemency and petitioned the minister, claiming that documentary evidence used against him was forged.

Olumoroti said the allegation prompted the minister to direct a fresh investigation through a special disciplinary committee that was inaugurated last Wednesday.

He alleged that the violent picketing action was aimed at disrupting the committee’s work and frustrating ongoing reforms within the agency.

‘This is a case of corruption fighting back. We are introducing reforms, accountability and discipline into the system and some persons are resisting change’ he said.

Engineer Olumoroti warned that the management will not tolerate acts of violence or intimidation, adding that all staff must operate within public service rules and extant laws-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you