Subscribers to the Nigeria Labour Congress housing scheme have given the Labour movement three weeks to refund their money which they paid into an account to which the NLC President, Adulwaheed Omar, is signatory.

Some of the subscribers protested at the Labour House in Abuja to demand an explanation for non-payment of their money, months after the housing scheme was certified fraudulent.

The Labour Congress, in 2013, went into partnership with a private developer, Kriston Lally Nigeria Limited, to build 300,000 homes, 100,000 of which were to be commissioned in December, 2014.

But the project is yet to take off and the Labour Congress is alleging fraud by the developer.

Workers from different organisations, who subscribed to the NLC-Kriston-Lally affordable house scheme, blocked the entrance to the premises of the Nigeria Labour Congress and other labour offices at the central area in Abuja, ensuring that no one went in or out.

The workers demanded to see the NLC President and after failed attempts by other members of staff to assuage them, the President came out to address the protesters.

The NLC President said that he had taken the matter head-on, with promises that the subscribers, many of who were genuine, would be refunded their money.

The subscribers paid 400,000 to 5.5 million naira, being part payment for the housing units ranging from one-bedroom apartments to three-bedroom detached bungalows.

Many of them said that they took loans which they service for as high as 40,000 naira monthly.

•Text courtesy of Channels. Photo shows NLC President, Adulwaheed Omar.