TIKO: Workers of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) took to the streets on Tuesday, November 12, in Tiko, South West region, demanding their unpaid wages. The protesters, numbering in the hundreds and carrying plants in their hands, also expressed their dissatisfaction with the CDC General Manager, calling for his dismissal with chants of “Njei Franklin must go” as they marched through the streets.
According to Cameroon News Agency, a placard placed in front of the CDC office demanded the payment of 55 months of unpaid wages. Additional placards displayed messages such as “CDC workers we want arrears salary,” highlighting the workers’ grievances. Despite the CDC General Manager receiving several local awards and recognitions this year for his service, the workers’ unrest suggests a significant discontent with the management.
The CDC, the largest employer in Cameroon after the state, has been facing numerous challenges, largely due to the ongoing conflict in the North West and South West regions for
the past eight years. This unrest has not been isolated, as CDC workers have protested multiple times in the past, demanding their due wages and better working conditions.
CNA has learned that there is a heightened security presence at the Tiko Council roundabout in anticipation of the approaching protesters. Despite these security measures, the workers continue to voice their demands, reflecting the ongoing struggle for fair compensation and accountability within the corporation.