WORRIED by frequent frivolous demand and activities inimical to the smooth operation of Ashaka Cement Company in Gombe State, the Managing Director of the Company, Malam Rabiu Umar, has called on Maiganga community in Akko Local Government area of the state, to cooperate with the company in its effort at improving the living condition of host communities.
Addressing newsmen in Gombe, the Managing Director who said the company is alive to its social responsibility to the host community added that efforts are being made to placate youths of the community where the company sources coal to generate energy for its operations.
The Managing Director stated that despite several approaches and efforts to assist youths in the community, particularly those of them employed as temporary staff, some of them had continued to make unreasonable demands and engaged in acts that disrupted the operations of the company.
“We had peaceful operations in the coal mine until December 2013 when we experienced the first blockage. So far, we have recorded more than seven incidents that resulted in colossal loss of revenue. Majority of the disruption had been by the temporary staff who are consistently asking for salary increase and conversion to permanent staff.
“We currently have 35 permanent and 94 temporary staff in the coalmine, which is far above the 25 staff requirements for the mine. We had signed an agreement with the community, which stipulated that 10 permanent staff will be employed in mines, from 2017 to 2020.” Umar said.
On the assistance rendered so far to the community, the Director said the company built 69 houses as replacement for those whose houses were affected by the mining activities of the company in Maiganga, Garkoyel and Jauro Kelvin communities.
According to him, the three affected communities were relocated and keys were handed over to the identified beneficiaries in 2007 adding that in spite of this the Company is yet to have full support and cooperation of the youths in the communities.
He said that in addition to the houses, other infrastructure provided for the communities included Healthcare facilities, block of two classrooms, three hand pump boreholes and two worship centres (Mosque and Church) and seven km rural road.
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