THE plight of workers in the Delta Steel Company (DSC) may soon be addressed, as the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Sada has pledged to take the operational challenges and non-payment of salaries to the National Council on Privatisation for immediate resolution.Sada, an architect, gave the assurance in Abuja when he received a delegation of 117 expatriate workers of the company led by its Manager, Rolling Mill, Dinesh Yadav, in his office, seeking resolution of their 11-month salary being owed them by its owner, Global Infrastructure Holding Limited.Sada, who reaffirmed government's commitment to the development of the steel sub-sector,noted that some of the foreign investors who bought the companies were finding it difficult to operate them owing to operational issues.In a statement quoting the Minister, he explained that the decision of the Federal Government to privatise companies in the sector was to avoid interference and bureaucracy, for them to contribute meaningfully to the economic and industrial development of the country.'Butsome of the foreign investors who bought the companies were finding it difficult to operate them. This is evident from the fact that the Indians who were recruited abroad and brought to the Delta Steel Company by the present owners, Global Infrastructure Holdings Limited, are being owed salaries and allowances for 11 months,' adding that the foreign investors have to be called to order,' he said.He assured that he would personally discuss the lingering issues of the Delta Steel Company with the Vice-President and Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, (NCP), Alhaji Namadi Sambo, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a lasting solution.Also, he noted that the government, through the NCP, has embarked on various initiatives such as efforts to discuss with the management team of Delta Steel Company on the completion of the super concentrate line at the National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, that would supply raw materials to the company, among others, to resolve the operational issues.While commending the delegation for bringing their grievances to the attention of the government, he assured them that their report would be brought officially to the attention of the Vice-President, for an urgent resolution.Sada urged the expatriate workers to continue to be law abiding. 'We want you to be paid, we want you to work and we want Delta Steel Company to move forward'.Yadav said the essence of the visit was to register their displeasure over the non-payment of their outstanding eleven 11-month salaries and allowances by the company and appealled to the government for intervention.He informed that all efforts to drive home their demands to the management of the company had yielded no result, adding that workers in the company were faced with untold hardships brought about due to non-payment of remuneration, electricity, water and medical entitlements, among others.The leader of the delegation said the 117 expatriate staff of Delta Steel Company, Delta state were recruited by M/S Global Steel Holding Limited in India and posted to the company since 2005.
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