Oyo Workers Observe Jumat Prayer Outside Secretariat Main Gate

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Aggrieved Oyo State workers and pensioners under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), yesterday made good their threats to observe the Friday Jumat service at the entrance of the Secretariat main gate.

The workers who had embarked on protests since Monday had vowed not to stop until Governor Seyi Makinde addresses them on their demands.

The workers in large numbers gathered at the main gate where they observed the Jumat service with one of them leading the prayer.

The main entrance of the state Secretariat had been blocked since the protests began a situation that had affected free flow of vehicular movements.

Workers were also discouraged from going into the state Secretariat to resume the day’s work and join the protest.

Among requests of the workers include payment of salary deductions, palliatives for workers, upward review of pension allowances, payment of leave bonus, payment of gratuities to retirees who have been stagnated since the year 2021 and release of promotion letters for the Year 2021 and 2022.

The Vice Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council (Public Service), Comrade Olanipekun Oluwaseun, while speaking with journalists, said the Jumat service held at the main gate of the Secretariat might not have been necessary if the governor had showed up to address the workers.

There was however a heavy security presence at the main gate to maintain law and order.