Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Tuesday, joined the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress for its peaceful protest over the recent economic hardship in the country.
The labour leaders and youths began a two-day peaceful protest declared by the NLC over the hardship faced by Nigerians.
The leadership of the NLC initially restricted the governor from addressing the protesters, alleging that he was among the nation’s leaders causing the hardship.
Makinde urged the labour leaders to make their demands to his government, stating areas they would want the government to assist in ameliorating the hardship faced by the masses.
He said his administration had been living up to its expectations as regards the welfare of its workforce.
The governor said, “I am aware of the hardship in town and the difficulty the people are going through but I will be part of the generation that will fix the country.”
“The government has started paying N25,000 and N15,000 wage awards to all state civil servants and pensioners, respectively, since October,” he said.
The governor assured the people that his government remained committed to implementing programmes which would cushion the removal of the fuel subsidy effect.
He appealed to the NLC to let the protest remain peaceful.
The workers began their protest from the NLC state secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan, the state capital, down to Gate – NTA – Yemetu roundabout where Governor Makinde joined the protesting workers.
He also assured the workers that their letters of protest and complaints would be delivered to President Bola Tinubu.
Earlier, the state NLC Chairman, Kayode Martins said the cost of living was no longer bearable, especially for the common man.
He said, “The cost of living in Nigeria today is nothing to write home and the people are fed up, so that’s why we are on the street now.”
