The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, the leading Igbo socio-cultural organization, has uncovered a significant salary fraud within the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
In a statement released on Friday, the group’s National President, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, highlighted deep concerns about ongoing corruption at the federal government-owned facility.
He described the findings as just one of many irregularities plaguing the company.
According to Okwu, a preliminary investigation by the council revealed rampant corruption within the company’s recruitment and salary payment processes.
He noted that employees are not being paid the full amounts stated in their appointment letters, leading to severe financial discrepancies.
“Our investigations revealed that certain staff members are receiving far less than what their appointment letters promise,” Okwu stated. “For instance, one staff member hired as ‘Graduate Manpower’ with a supposed monthly salary of N100,000 is only receiving N18,000, leaving an alarming N82,000 shortfall.”
He further exposed another case involving a staff member similarly recruited under a ‘Graduate Manpower’ designation, supposedly on a Grade Level 8/4 salary. However, this individual also receives only N18,000 monthly.
Okwu criticized the involvement of third-party contractors in the employment process, noting that these workers are being employed under M/s Hamdan International Limited, with contracts tied to Ajaokuta Steel Company.
“Why is a third party handling the employment and salary payments of staff directly associated with Ajaokuta Steel Company?” he questioned.
The Ohanaeze Youths have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to immediately probe the recruitment and salary processes at Ajaokuta Steel Company.
They urged the anti-corruption agencies to compare staff appointment letters with actual monthly earnings, as documented in their bank statements.
The group also emphasized their commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stating that they would not allow anyone to undermine the interests of Nigerian youth, especially in employment matters.
“The youth bear the brunt of employment issues, and we are determined to ensure that those responsible for this fraud are held accountable,” Okwu asserted.
Furthermore, the Ohanaeze Youths demanded complete transparency in the company’s partnership agreements. “Nigerians are tired of opaque deals like the one involving the Mambilla Hydropower project.
The agreement concerning Ajaokuta Steel Company should be between the Federal Government and the consortium directly, with no middlemen involved,” the statement concluded.
