Oyo state Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, joined Nigeria Labour Congress and other civil society organizations in the peaceful protest for better Nigeria.
While acknowledging that there’s hunger and anger in the land, Makinde said ‘the solution is still for us to pull together’ and confront the challenges.
According to Governor Makinde the message of the NLC and CSo’s in the state concerning the economic hardship in the country will be delivered to President Bola Tinubu.
The Governor also assured the protesters of his support towards ensuring better Nigeria.
Governor Makinde said his administration as a way of cushion the effect of the hardship has since October roll out different programmes which includes safer and payment of 25,000 Naira wage awards.
He urged the protesters to continue to be peaceful during and after the protest.
His words: “My message to the protesters and people of Oyo State is to simply let them know that this is a trying period for our country. It is not the time for divisive activities. We have to pull together and confront the challenges that we are faced with.
“Usually, when you are going through a period where you are trying to reform a system, there will be challenges. We have seen it in 1989 during the Structural Adjustment Programme. We had a riot but, at the end of the day, we still all came together to solve our problem.
“I told the Labour and also responded to the NLC president that this is not the time for lies and propaganda. They cannot say no state is paying wage awards as we have started paying it to our workers and pensioners since October, last year. Even, I have extended it by another six months to give us the opportunity to sit down and negotiate the minimum wage and the adjustment that will come with it.
“So, I have appealed to them though I know that this protest is their right. I will pass the letter they gave to me to the President.
“I know there is hunger and anger in the land but the solution is still for us to pull together.”
The NLC chairman in the state, Comrade Kayode Martins and other labour union leaders appealed to federal government to find lasting solution to economic hardship facing the country.
