By Agnes Afolabi
Civil/public servants in Oyo State have vowed to continue with their protest, no matter how long it takes them to have the governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, speak with them in person.
NLC Chairman in the state, Mr Kayode Martins, stated this while addressing newsmen during a protest by the organised labour to get government’s attention to roll out palliatives to state workers and the citizens.
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 commencement of the protest on Monday, been blocking the main entrance gate to the government secretariat, with official activities paralysed.
The NLC chairman said although the governor had set up a committee on subsidy removal palliatives eight weeks ago, the committee had not met since then on the assignment.
He said that the situation in the state was becoming worrisome in the face of other state governors rolling out palliatives for their workers and citizens.
Martins said that the congress was complying with the directive of its national body to state the protest, adding that the people of the state were in support of the action.
According to him, 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.
NLC’s position to continue with the protest until Makinde showed up was supported by the state Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Bosun Olabiyi.
According to Olabiyi, the union will continue the protest in the state, even if it takes the governor one month to address them.
He said that people on the streets were tired and hungry, adding that, that was the reason for their protest.
“What we are asking for is to let the people be and live as Nigerians, and not as animals. Enough is enough,” he said.