Hardship: Ondo, Oyo, Ogun Workers Join Nationwide Protest

By Isaac Afolabi, Olubunmi Agboola, Oluwatoyin Adegoke

Ondo State Union leaders today joined their counterparts nationwide to protest against the current economic hardship in the country.

Addressing the peaceful protesters who stormed the governor’s office, Alagbaka Akure for the two days warning strike, Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele while appreciating the peaceful conduct of the protesters said the government was aware of the current situation and working to ameliorate the hardship.

Pastor Ogundele said the federal government was currently implementing policies to make life more meaningful for workers.

Speaking on the state government interventions for Ondo state workers, the head of service said part of the palliative programs included the thirty-five thousand naira wage award for workers, payment of pension arrears for retirees and free transportation for workers among others.

Pastor Ogundele further announced that health workers in the state would soon start receiving their hazard allowances from the 1st of  March 2024.

Responding, the  Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Ondo State Council, Comrade Victor Amoko appealed to federal and state governments to quickly introduce policies that would better the lives of Nigerians.

While frowning at the high cost of living in the country, Comrade Victor Amoko called on the Ondo State Government for more interventions. 

Our correspondent further reports that NLC affiliate unions including the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Nigeria Union of Teachers, and NUT were present during the peaceful protest.

Oyo Workers Storm Streets

Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Oyo State on Tuesday, stormed major streets in Ibadan to express their grievances over the current economic hardship in the country. 

The protest which started around 9 a.m., witnessed a large turnout of workers in the state who trekked from the NLC secretariat to Gate, Total Garden and the state secretariat.

Receiving the governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde appealed to the workers that their agitations would be taken to the President and provided solutions as soon as possible

Reacting, the state chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress in Oyo State, Mr. Kayode Martins said the level of poverty, hike in price of foodstuffs and insecurity bedevilling the country was unbearable.

The protest is expected to continue tomorrow.

Ogun Workers Lament Hardship

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ogun State chapter has joined their counterparts across the country to protest the prevailing hardship in the country occasioned by fuel subsidy removal and skyrocketing prices of goods, particularly food items.

Protesters who converged on the NLC Secretariat, Leme, Abeokuta and moved through the NNPC road to Kuto Round about chanting solidary song, also displayed placards with inscriptions, like “Let the poor breathe “, “Stop importation of petrol” and “fix refineries now”. 

The leadership of the NLC disclosed that the two-day rally slated for Tuesday and Wednesday was to compel both the federal and state governments to tackle the problem of insecurity, hunger and the continued rise in poverty across the country.

Speaking with journalists, the Chairman of Ogun State NLC, Comrade Hammed Ademola-Benco said that the rally was hinged on getting good deals for Nigerians and not to confront the government.

“The wage award that they promised is still not being paid by many states, the government must stop carrying on as if all is well. We are only calling on the government to be responsible and attend to our demands which is about making lives more rewarding and enjoyable for the people” he stated. 

The Chairman described the industrial action as very successful, claiming that the leadership of the 40 affiliates of the union in Ogun State turned out to participate in the peaceful rally. 

The National Vice President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Comrade Yinka Folarin while speaking at the event appealed to the government to live up to the expectations of the renewed hope agenda and come to the aid of the common man in the country.

The security agencies such as the police, DSS and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC were on the ground to maintain law and order.

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