By Adeyinka Adeniran
Oyo state governor Seyi Makinde on Tuesday received the leadership of Labour Unions in the state.
The team was led by the Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kayode Martins and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Comrade Bosun Olabiyi.
They were accompanied by the leaders of all the other affiliates and groups under the Congress to the brief meeting which held held at the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital city.
A source at the meeting said the Union leaders decided to go and see the governor in person and deliver a letter following the directive of the national leadership of the Unions to the state Councils to further discussions with their various state governments on the agreement reached with the Federal Government which led to the suspension of the proposed nationwide indefinite strike.
A copy of the letter sighted by Corenews entitled “Re: Suspension of Nationwide Industrial Action” reads in parts:
“We hereby wrote to urge Your Excellency to please quickly replicate in Oyo State the content of agreement reached between the National Labour Leaders of the NLC/TUC and the Federal Government of Nigeria and wish that Your Excellency do more being the Governor of the Pacesetter State.
“Consequently, the two labour Centres in the state hereby demand for a meeting with the State government in respect of the above matter between today Tuesday 3rd and Thursday 5th October 2023 to douse the already built up tension among workers in the state.
“Thanking Your Excellency for the expected cooperation”.
The letter was signed by the Chairmen and Secretaries Unions including: Comrade Kayode Martins and Comrade Fabunmi Olumuyiwa of the NLC; Comrade Bosun Olabiyi and Comrade Babatunde Balogun of the TUC as well as Comrade Olanipekun Oluwaseun and Comrade Mustapha Tunde of the Public Service Joint Negotiating Council (PSJNC).
The source who would not want his name to be mentioned in print because he was not authorized to speak said the Governor received the team and the copy of the letter in person.
He quoted Governor Makinde as assuring the visitors that the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo would write to reply and acknowledge the letter formally and address all the demands in the letter.
He further added that the governor promised that a Committee set up earlier on the wake of the fuel subsidy removal to review workers salary will begin work on Monday to also look at the demands of the workers.
The source added that the Union leaders were very delighted to deliver the letter directly to the governor himself, thereby breaking all barriers that had made several attempts and letters sent to the governor earlier end up in futility.
He said the leaders are optimistic and looking forward to further discussions with the governor in the interest of the workers and people of the state.
