A mining company, Koyla Energy Limited, has returned to the Odagbo community in Ankpa local government area of Kogi State after an earlier face-off with the youths in the area.
The firm left the mining site after protests by the youths over an employment dispute. The youth are demanding to be employed as operators of heavy machinery – a request the company rejected citing lack of prerequisite qualifications.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE earlier reported how the youths prevented officials of the mining company from gaining access to the site, only for miners to return to site on November 12.
On December 1, the youths staged another peaceful protest within the village, forcing the company to carry out another fresh employment interview in the village on Thursday.
One of the youths told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE that the employment by the company was fraught with irregularities.
“Instead of conducting the interview in Odagbo, they took it to Ankpa,” he said. “It was only when we went there that the company started demanding certain requirements we don’t have, such as driving licenses and Trade Test certificates.”
But Malam Ibrahim Abubakar, speaking on behalf of Odagbo Village head, Malam Abu Amedu, said the challenge facing the youths was the right qualification for the skilled jobs they are applying for, adding that most of the papers they presented were either fake or had contradictions on them.
“We had advised the youths not to follow the company officials to Ankpa to attend the interview, but hold them back here at home so that we know how we can impress on the officials to do our biddings, but they refused. Even at that, employment is still ongoing and we will do what we can to save the situation.”
The Chairman, Odagbo Community Development Association, Home branch, Hassan Akor Shuaibu, said the company had refused to employ the youths to operate earth-moving machines, based on qualification, but many of the youths have been given jobs as security guards, mining assistants, among others.
Kogi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals Abubakar Bashiru Gegu said the state government was not aware of the development.
But Chairman, Miners Association of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter, Yunusa Orumah, who is an indigene of Odgabo, said the commissioner was economical with the truth.
The spokesperson of the mining company, Jibrin Ogohi, said the company was able to return to site after both parties resolved their differences, and those that passed the test had been given employment.
