Oyo cautions against violence as workers’ protest enters day 4

From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan

Oyo State government has cautioned against violence as the indefinite protest embarked on by civil servants and pensioners in Oyo State over non-remittance of deduction from their salaries to appropriate quarters, including cooperative societies.

The protesters have been locking all gates in and out of the Government Secretariat at Agodi, Ibadan since Monday and have also vowed that they would not stop the protest until Governor Seyi Makinde addresses them.

But on Tuesday, some of the labour leaders enforcing compliance of civil servants to the protest clamped down on some workers that defied their directives, entered offices, and beat some of the workers with canes.

However, in a bid to address the ongoing protests by civil servants, the government has issued a strong call for non-violence.

Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, in a statement yesterday,  emphasised the importance of peaceful agitation and condemned the recent attack on civil servants, including Mr. Dare Olaniyan of the Ministry of Information and Orientation.

Oyelade highlighted the prudent management of state resources and the government’s commitment to the welfare of its workforce. He added that spending on political office-holders’ salaries amounted to less than N100 million monthly, whereas N7.3billion was dedicated to supporting the workforce during the same period for salary.

According to him, Governor Seyi Makinde has consistently prioritised civil servant issues since 2019, with over 90 per cent of political office-holders not enjoying the luxury of an official car in the past four years. In contrast, numerous senior civil servants have been provided with such facilities, he stated.

Addressing the concerns of workers who are facing salary deductions, Oyelade emphasised that these measures should not elicit extreme reactions. He highlighted how other states, despite having larger funds, are struggling to replicate Oyo State’s management practices.

The statement further said that owing two months (salary) deductions should not attract extreme reactions, when workers themselves know that other states, with larger funds are struggling to imitate Oyo State.

He, however,  assured citizens that the government’s relationship with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) remains strong, and together, they would work towards resolving the current tension and ensuring peace in the state. With their commitment to fair treatment and comprehensive welfare policies, the Oyo State Government aims to create a harmonious working environment for all civil servants, he added.