The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the Managing Director of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority Ilorin, Kwara state, Engr. Olushola George Olumoroti, of victimising union leaders and mismanaging the agency, and is demanding an independent investigation.
In a statement issued 11 May 2026, the NLC and its affiliate, the National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees, said Olumoroti’s press release on the same day contained “deliberate misrepresentations” about the union’s protest and the disciplinary case against Comrade Mudi Olayinka Raji, former branch chairman of the union at the authority.
The labour movement said the victimisation of Raji and other union members began under former MD Engr. Saheed Aremu after the union reported alleged maladministration to the Ministry of Water Resources. Raji was removed as Area Manager, Ilorin Area Office, and later faced a disciplinary committee without first receiving a formal query, the NLC said, calling the process “a nullity in law and public service procedure.”
The NLC also alleged that disputed IOUs dated to 2018 were only acted on in 2022, despite multiple audits in the intervening years raising no issues against Raji. It argued that accountability for unretired IOUs rests primarily with the Area Office Accountant, not the Area Manager, and accused management of selective discipline.
On current management practices, the NLC claimed Olumoroti approved 28-day relocation allowances for himself and executive directors while denying them to junior staff transferred to area offices. It also alleged procurement irregularities, stating that the MD told union representatives the Bureau of Public Procurement was “aware of and complicit.”
The union further accused the MD of bypassing the Executive Director, Finance and Administration on the GIFMIS payment platform by enrolling a subordinate officer instead, in violation of financial regulations. It cited a standoff between the MD and the ED F&A over a procurement accountability request.
Regarding the 11 May protest, the NLC said workers were conducting a peaceful demonstration when “individuals we have strong reason to believe were induced and mobilised by the Managing Director” emerged from the premises and attacked protesters with cutlasses, causing injuries. The NLC said it has video evidence and eyewitness accounts and challenged the MD to disclose the identities of the three individuals seen with cutlasses.
The union denied obstructing a ministerial verification committee, saying Raji had not been formally notified of any such committee as of 11 May. It challenged Olumoroti to produce documentary evidence of notification and called on the Minister of Water Resources to clarify any directives issued.
*Demands made by NLC and NUAAE include:*
– An independent investigation into the MD’s financial management, procurement practices, and administrative conduct. Immediate correction of GIFMIS enrollment to restore authority to the ED F&A.
Also they are seeking Payment of outstanding 28-day relocation allowances and correction of grade level placements, release of withheld promotion letters and withdrawal of queries issued over the 11 May protest.
They want Investigation into the alleged use of an LNRBDA vehicle for private purposes and the Police investigation into the cutlass attack and referral of the matter to ICPC, EFCC, and BPP.
The NLC said it would submit documented evidence to anti-corruption agencies in the coming days and urged the police to investigate the violence.
There was no immediate response from Engr. Olumoroti or the Ministry of Water Resources to the latest allegations.
