SIFAX Group said last weekend that, it has paid financial compensation to the family of the dockworker; late ThankGod Ojomah, who died as a result of an accident involving one of the company’s haulage trucks.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by Corporate Affairs Manager of Sifax; Mr Muyiwa Akande , the company stated that wife of the deceased, Mrs. Edna Nathaniel-Ojomah, his immediate younger brother, Jonah Ojomah, officials of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and SIFAX Group attended the event.
The payment came same day that Shipping Position Daily reported the delay in payment of the compensation. This newspaper had reported the delayed payment on Friday.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) had in the story, lamented that Sifax Group was yet to compensate the family of the deceased dockworker who was crushed to death in December 2017 by a truck belonging to the company.
The late dockworker worked with Micura Stevedoring Services Limited.
He was reportedly crushed to death while trying to cross the road at Warehouse Bus Stop on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos last Wednesday on delay in paying the compensation, President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju lamented that what Sifax Group was proposing as settlement for the family of the dockworker was not acceptable.
He however refused to disclose to our correspondent the amount proposed by the union, even as he acknowledged that the deceased dockworker was not a staff of Sifax, but only a victim of accident involving a truck that belong to Sifax.
But, speaking with Shipping Position Daily on the delay, spokesman of Sifax Group, Muyiwa Akande confirmed that negotiations were still ongoing and that the only thing left was for both parties to agree on an amount.
Shedding light on the issue, he said: "We are already working with them and negotiation is ongoing, we have equally made the PG of the union to be involved in all these negotiations, what is remaining now is just to arrive at an appropriate figure"
"In negotiations, when there are two parties involved, the valuation might be different, but the good thing is that both parties are still talking and trying to find a middle ground"
"The company is also committed to anything that has to do with the welfare of, whether it's our staff, our client or our suppliers”.
However at the payment of compensation on Friday, Executive Director, HR & Admin, SIFAX Group, Dr. Fola Rogers–Saliu, commiserated with the family over the loss, adding that no financial package can adequately compensate for the untimely death of a breadwinner. She prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul while further charging the wife to judiciously invest the money for the benefit of her children.
She said: “We are deeply saddened by the death of the deceased. Our boss, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi was very shocked when the news was broken to him. He gave us the mandate to provide support and succor to the family. That’s why we were able to support the family financially during the burial and today, we are paying compensation.
“This compensation is not for the life lost because no amount of money, no matter how huge, can pay for life. It’s a way of supporting the dependants of the deceased.”
Rogers-Saliu, who represented the executive vice chairman of Sifax Group; Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, said the company would also explore any feasible means of providing more support for the family.
On his part, the President, Dockworkers branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN). Mr. Tajudeen Ohize, lauded SIFAX Group for its maturity and concern during the negotiation with the union. He noted that the union led the negotiation with SIFAX Group due to its commitment to the welfare of all its members, including the families of the departed ones.
After receiving the payment, Mrs. Edna Nathaniel-Ojonah thanked the management of SIFAX Group and praised the commitment of the workers union for coming to their aid after her husband’s demise. She promised to use the compensation very well in order to secure the future of her children.
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