With Matthew Denis
Former staffers of Kwara Hotels have been paid a total sum of N89m as gratuity by Harmony Holdings Limited (HHL).
The Acting Chief Operating Officer of the hotel, Mrs. Funmilayo Abdulkadir made the disclosure during an interview with journalists in Ilorin on Friday.
She said, ” We have paid N89 million to 186 former workers of the hotel as gratuity owed by the former management. The situation has been very calm and the agitating staff are happy now and almost everybody has received alert now.
“The payment was done instalmentally and we still have outstanding salaries like four months owed by the past management. We have cooperative and 10 per cent annual increment and union due to offset.
“The state government is working and verifying the documents submitted on these arrears and I’m sure in no time, workers will be paid,” she assured.
According to her, HHL is on short term intervention to improve the situation in the hotel, adding that implementation would start by next week before state government involvement.
She added,” We have the consultant around already working to renovate the hotel facilities to world standard.”
The COO noted that the Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed led administration has been very supportive, saying that the intervention will put an end to the agitation by the workers.
Abdulkadir, who disclosed that the hotel is being run with 86 staff after the downsizing, assured that more workers would be re-engaged as the situation improves.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to newsmen appreciated the state government for alleviating their suffering through payment of the gratuity.
Mr. Shittu Kayode Kamal and Mrs. Halimat Sa’ad commended the gesture by the state government while the call for more support and cooperation of staff with the management for the growth of the hotel.
