Street-sweeper-in-Lagos-state
Multinational corporations have been urged to provide reflective jackets and other logistics to street sweepers in Lagos State.
A banker, Mr Simeon George, who made the call in Lagos on Thursday, said such outfits make the cleaners visible several metres away.
George added that the corporate organisations in the state should get involved in the issue welfare of the street sweepers.
“If you look at the reflective overalls the sweepers wear, you will notice the name of the bank providing those outfits to make the cleaners visible several metres away.
“It is a safety mechanism. I appeal to multinational corporations to support them with more logistics’’, he said.
He said the support had become necessary because of safety and that the sweepers were making great contribution to the cleaning of the environment in the state.
An advert executive, Mrs Fatima Nwosu, also urged the State Government to do more for the safety of the cleaners by taking out insurance policies for them.
An engineer, Mr Moses Gaya, urged the state government to adopt new technology in the cleaning of busy roads and highways.
“We have formed a very bad habit of refuse disposal that puts so much pressure on these street cleaners.
“If you visit major bus stops and busy highways very early in the morning before the cleaners begin work, you will appreciate what they are doing.
“Government should introduce machines to sweep busy roads and train the sweepers on how to operate the equipment to reduce the risk of cleaners being knocked down by vehicles”, he said.
However, a janitor, Malam Hashiru Sule, called on the state government to do everything needed to improve the welfare of sweepers. “The task looks simple but it is a very hard work”, he said.
Other respondents called for increase in their monthly salaries.
A sweeper on the Ojodu axis who identified herself as Iya Ajoke said that she used the job to complement her petty trade.
“The pay is small compared to the risk but what can we do, we need to survive. If government can increase the pay, it will help us, we receive N12, 000 monthly”, she said.
A sweeper in Ilupeju said incognito that, “Sometimes, life does not treat us as we deserve.”
An octogenarian, who identified himself as Baba Hope, said he decided to clean the streets instead of idling.
“The job is risky and the pay is small, but it is better to start all over, no matter how small”, he said.
He expressed hope that he would not be killed on the highway because of the warning signs used to barricade where he worked.
Also, a sweeper on the Dopemu axis who identified herself as Mary, appealed for their improved welfare.
A business woman, Mrs Jasminejoy Elendu told NAN that the sweepers had changed the status of Lagos which used to be listed among the dirtiest cities in the world few years ago.
“Although the state government has evolved an effective refuse management system, it would amount to nothing without the devotion of these street sweepers.
“We appreciate this but the state government should deploy traffic agencies on major roads where the sweepers work because of reckless drivers,” she said.
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