Company sources told the News Agency of Nigeria that the management had met and agreed to pay the workers, even before the protest.
“We were surprised that the workers protested on Thursday because we met with them on Tuesday and agreed to pay their severance benefits.
“I do not know the exact day when the money will be paid but it will certainly be next week,’’ the source told NAN.
Protesting workers, including children of one of them, now deceased, carried placards at the Kirikiri Offices of the company decrying the delay in the payment of the benefits.
Stabilini Visinoni is a construction firm owned by Dr Wale Babalakin, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Mr Michael Johnson, the first son of the deceased worker, told NAN that he was at the office to demand for their fathers’ entitlement covering 27 years.
“My father died after working for over 27 years in Stabilini Visinoni. The management did not pay him his severance benefits before his death. We met with the Chairman, Dr Babalakin and explained our plight.
“He promised to settle the benefits of our late father, including over four months’ of salary arrears. Our father died in 2013 but up till now, nothing has been paid to us.
“We appeal to him to pay the money owed to our late father for services rendered. It is over N5 million,’’ he said.
Mr Maxwell Ochuko, General Secretary, Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association, said that the workers were being owed nine months’ salaries, gratuity benefits and severance packages, since they have been laid off.
Ochuko said that the company also deducted cooperative dues, pension and money for the National Joint Industrial Council, but has failed to remit the funds or pay it back to the workers.
He said that the management of the company sacked the over 500 workers and shut the company in 2012 and 2013, but has refused to settle their entitlements.
“This is sad. As we speak, about seven of the workers sacked since 2012 have died because of the pains from the non-payment of their severance entitlements. The management has been bringing security officials to block the company’s gates since we were laid off.
“All we are asking is for our outstanding benefits to be paid,’’ Ochuko said.
Mr Augustine Amaechi, branch union General Secretary, said the Vice Chairman of the union suffered a stroke in June, because of the lingering efforts to collect his benefits.