Companies in Bonny Island Should Not Dare Us – Youth Federation

The Bonny Youth Federation (BYF) has warned companies doing business in Bonny Island not to test its patience but act swiftly to investigate the allegations of extortion, intimidation, harassment and other ills being matted against indigenes of Bonny LGA who work with them.

This is coming against the backdrop of mounting allegations of extortion, intimidation, harassment and ethnic profiling against Bonny indigenes working in different companies in Bonny Island.

In a statement on Saturday, March 2, 2024, Leader of the BYF, Anthony Banigo stated that the BYF expects that in reciprocity of the hospitality and goodwill being enjoyed by the various companies doing business in Bonny from the people, the least expected from them is to respect and treat her people well.
“Were certain companies or their officials single out our brothers and sisters for arbitrary sack without recourse to the provisions of the Nigeria Labour laws; were people are blacklisted because they spoke up about what is not good in their workplace and placed on redundancy, it is an affront to Bonny Kingdom.”

“The increasing number of persons coming out to speak about very unfortunate experiences they have been subjected to in their places of work is appalling to say the least and moreso in their homeland.”

“That the King of Bonny is loving, caring and accommodating does not mean he and his people should be trodden under foot. The Bonny Youth Federation is making it equivocally clear that actions would be taken within the ambit of the laws of Nigeria to checkmate such attitudes in our land.”

He stated that invitations have been sent to the respective companies being mentioned in the various allegations, noting that this is with a view to giving them the benefit of the doubt and fair hearing.

“We do not want to assume anything, whether the stories are true or not true, we have heard from our people, we want to also hear from their employers. We want to make sure that both employee and employer are in the right about this issues.”

The statement added that the BYF expects that all companies abide by extant laws of Nigeria regulating the work environment, international best practices and fundamental human rights protocols to which Nigeria is signatory to.

The statement said the BYF would not “hesitate to go after any company which management or other officials that makes it a habit to disrespect, harass, intimidate or extort the people of Bonny Kingdom”.