‘Why I intervened in BUA industrial crises’

But HRH Sado said his intervention led to the recalling of 400 of the affected truck drivers.

He said the recalled sacked drivers would also receive their salary arrears.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City, the Okpella monarch said the situation worsened hardship among residents in his kingdom.

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He said he led a high-powered delegation to meet with Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, and extensive discussions were held to resolve the impasse.

Sado said the delegation appealed for leniency and reconsideration of the company's earlier decision not to recall the affected workers.

According to him, “These were issues that even the state government was aware of, and community leaders had been making efforts to resolve them. When the drivers protested, management sacked about 400 of them and shut down the entire transport system, which created serious economic challenges.

“We pleaded with the chairman, and after deliberations, we all agreed that the drivers should be reinstated. Before now, management had concluded they would not be recalled, but the intervention yielded positive results.

“I also pleaded with him to pay their arrears from January to March, which he graciously granted,” he added.

Other issues discussed at the meeting, according to the Okpella monarch, included the long-promised construction of a hospital by BUA Cement.

He said design for the hospital was ready, saying the groundbreaking ceremony will soon be done.

“What is important is not the absence of a crisis, but the willingness to resolve issues and move forward for the collective good,” he said.