Striking Oyo Workers Demand Palliatives, Higher Pensions

Labour unions in Oyo State, Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) who started their protest on Monday have joined their counterparts nationwide to march round Ibadan, the state capital.

The state chairmen of NLC and TUC, Kayode Matins and Bosun Olabiyi, respectively, had earlier disclosed that the spirit of aluta would determine whether they will move round the town or not; but they later led the workers round the city of Ibadan, demanding for palliatives and upward review of pension allowances and payment of salary deduction.

Leaders of the labour unions led the workers from the Secretariat to Mokola Roundabout, Agodi-Gate and then went back to the Secretariat to continue their protest until the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, personally addressed them.

Addressing newsmen, Martins lamented that, “All the anti-people policies have killed a lot of people in just two months, hence the reason for the peaceful protest.

“No single Nigerian can say he or she had received palliatives from the Federal Government. Initially, they offered with one hand and took with another hand. They are not pitying Nigerians, especially downtrodden market men and women. So, no going back on this struggle.”