Subsidy pains: Protests rock Oyo, Osun

Protests broke out on Monday in Oyo and Osun states over hardships resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy the President Bola Tinubu.

Oyo State workers, on Monday, locked the state secretariat at Agodi in Ibadan, as they protested issues relating to the effects of the subsdy removal.

The PUNCH reports that the workers  demanded palliatives, an upward review of pension allowances, and payment of salary deduction, among other things.

They are also demanding payment of leave bonuses, payment of gratuities to retirees who have stagnated since 2021 and release of promotion letters for the years 2021 and 2022.

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The protesters were workers and pensioners under the banners of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, and their affiliates.

Led by the NLC and TUC Chairmen, Kayode Martins and Olatunbosun Olabiyi, respectively, the workers said the protest would continue today (Tuesday).

Similarly, members of Osun Civil Societies Coalition on Monday stormed the streets of Osogbo in protest against high costs of living and urged the Federal Government to ensure immediate reduction in the pump price of petrol.

The protesters converged on the Ayetoro area of Osogbo, where they began the walk, which took them to Igbona, Old Garage, Oke Fia, and Olaiya Area, where they sensitised the people to the need to rise against harsh economic policies of the Federal Government.

 As the protesters, accompanied by operatives of the Department of State Security, the police and officers of Amotekun Corps, marched through the streets, there was heavy traffic build-up along major routes within the state capital.

Meanwhile, the Senate, on Monday, directed its leadership to meet with the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress to avert the impending nationwide strike action.

The NLC had given the Federal Government an ultimatum to rescind the fuel subsidy removal or face a nationwide strike beginning from Wednesday.

The resolution of the Senate followed a motion titled: ‘Urgent need to avert impending nationwide strike being called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over removal of fuel subsidy,’ sponsored by Senator Sulaiman Kawu (NNPP, Kano South).