The National Youth Council of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter, has described the criminal invasion of BN Ceramics Company Ajaokuta by some youths under the guise of Pan African Development Network Network as unacceptable, called on security agencies to fish out those behind the invasion.
Comr. Isreal Alonge, State Chairman of the State NYCN, registered the displeasure in a World Press Conference, described the activities of Pan African Development Youth Network as alien to youths of Kogi State.
He described BN Ceramics Company Ajaokuta as a company that has impacted the host Communities in Kogi, lamented that some persons not resident in the state would invade with the military and policemen, in a Gestapo manner, invade a business concern for no just cause.
The State Chairman of the NYCN to said the Council is concerned about the invasion, said it is taking a position on the matter because of the hundred of Youths who are engaged in BN Ceramics, said the invasion calls for the intervention by NYCN Kogi State Chapter.
The State Chairman described the invasion as alien to Kogi State Youths, said the Forceful demand of N10million by the Pan African Development Youth Network, who later collected N2million, and demanded monthly 10% return to it by BN as unfortunate.
According to the Chairman, ” For the avoidance of doubt, the NYCN had through a survey sent out questionnaire, using the checklist methodology to gather information pertaining to Staff welfare of BN Ceramics Company”, called on Security agencies to uncover those behind Pan African Development Youth Network.
See the full details of the Press SPEECH BY THE KOGI STATE NYCN ADDRESSING THE ACTIVITIES OF PAN AFRICAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT NETWORK IN THE STATE RECENTLY.
The attention of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, the Umbrella body for all youths in the State has been drawn to the invasion of BN Ceramicss Limited Ajaokuta by a youth group under the name PAN African Youth Development Network.
This Press conference has become necessary as a measure to check the criminal activities of an unknown body, not known to the NYCN Kogi state chapter.
We’re concerned to take a position on this matter because of the hundred of our Youths who are engaged in BN Ceramics as such the intervention by NYCN Kogi State Chapter.
Further investigation by the NYCN however disclosed that those parading themselves under the guise of PAN African Development Youth Network are not resident in the state but aliens whose identity we cannot ascertain.
Let us place on record that the PAN African Development Youth Network does not have the mandate it claims it possess to criminally, forcefully sweep on business concerns with a view to carrying out investigation as they so claim they did.
We the NYCN condemned in it entirety the action of the PAN African Development Youth Network to forcefully invade an investment with military and the police for no just course.
For the avoidance of doubt, the NYCN had through a survey sent out questionnaire, using the checklist methodology to gather information pertaining to Staff welfare of BN Ceramics Company.
From our findings it is important to state that revelation by the staff show that issues of staff welfare and conditions of service is made a priority and paramount in BN Ceramics, even though we cannot say the organization scored a 100%.
But above all, the underlisted requirement to measure the condition of service and welfare are far above average with BN Ceramics equally said to have maintain a friendly service condition by paying daily, amount that is reasonable and can compete favourably if not better than what is obtainable in other industries outside the state.
We must place on record that as a host state, we commend the corporate social responsibility programme of BN Ceramics to the host communities in terms of given bursaries to students of tertiary institutions from the area.
Similarly, the support of BN Ceramics to women through empowerment programmes remains unrivaled. The company has equally sank several boreholes within the host community with plans to further identify the problems of the communities with a view to doing more in the coming days.
We therefore, frown at the demand of ten million (N10,000,000) Naira by the PAN African Development Youth Network and the forceful collection of two million (N2,000,000) Naira from the BN Ceramics during the invasion.
We consider this extortion as criminal that must be condemned in its entirety. Furthermore, of what justification is the demand of 10% monthly earnings by the PAN African Development Youth Network from BN Ceramics.
This is not only the highest form of criminality but a new twist being brought into Kogi state. We therefore ask the necessary security agency to go out and fish-out this criminal demand, that is alien to the youths of Kogi state.
The NYCN make bold to say that we are not aware of the existence of the activity of PAN African Development Youth Network. We have expected them if they are truly genuine to visit our office firsthand information on the activities of BN Ceramics before engaging in the forceful invasion and criminal demand of money from the organization that has in no small measure given support and has helped the host community.
We still look forward for further improvement in the condition of service by the BN Ceramics no doubt, even as we the Kogi state NYCN condemn in strong term the activities of PAN African Development Youth Network. The activities is alien to that of Kogi state youths, who are no doubt show decency and support to investments in the state.
While we look forward to the necessary agency and bringing to book those behind PAN African Development Youth Network, the NYCN will continue to ensure that investments in the state are jealously guided.