Oyo State civil servants have promised not to stop their protest, no matter how long it takes them until the Governor of the state, Mr Seyi Makinde physically speak with them .
NLC Chairman in the state, Mr Kayode Martins, made this disclosure while speaking with journalists during a protest by the organised labour to get government’s attention to roll out palliatives to state workers and the citizens.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the protest, which started on Monday, entered its third day on Wednesday without the governor being available to address the workers.
The workers had, since the beginning of the protest on Monday, been blocking the main entrance gate to the government secretariat, with official activities paralysed.
Martins disclosed that although the governor had constitute a committee on subsidy removal palliatives eight weeks ago, the committee had not carried out the assignment since then.
He explained that hat the situation in the state was disheartening in the face of other state governors rolling out palliatives for their workers and citizens.
The NLC state chairman disclosed that the congress was adhering to the directive of its national body to state the protest, saying that the people of the state were in support of the action.
He said life has become a mirage in Nigeria as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
“Cost of living has become unbearable for the people of Oyo State and Nigeria in general.
“We in Oyo State have a number of issues that we are protesting against among which are unremitted deductions of staff cooperative loans, car and housing loans, unpaid promotion arrears, upward review of pension and leave bonuses,” he said.
It was gathered that at NLC’s position to continue with the protest until Makinde showed up was supported by the state Chairman of Trade Union Congress, Mr Bosun Olabiyi.
Olabiyi stated that the union will continue the protest in the state, even if it takes the governor one month to address them.
While noting that people on the streets were tired and hungry saying that that was the reason for their protest, he said, “What we are asking for is to let the people be and live as Nigerians, and not as animals. Enough is enough,” he said.
