Like a deluge, artisans including tailors, welders and iron benders stormed Osogbo, the Osun State capital to register their disapproval of the industrial action embarked upon by workers in public service of the state which has been on for the last two weeks.
The artisans who carried various placards bearing various inscriptions called on the striking workers to embrace dialogue with the Governor, Ogbeni rauf Aregbesola rather than crippling the apparatuses of the state administration.
The peaceful street protests which took place in Osogbo, the state capital began last Monday with Okada riders numbering about 500 who rode to the the Bola Ige House, Office of the Governor to register their support for the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola and called on the striking labour unions to return to the negotiation table in the interest of all.
On Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, artisans of various callings including tailors took the streets an stormed the Office of the Governor to protest the industrial action which was already having a biting effect on the state economy.
They expressed concern over the raging strike action arising from disputes over the N18,000 minimum wage which they noted should not be allowed to consume 90 per cent of the state revenue.
Addressing journalists during their separate protests, the President, Nigeria Union of Tailors (NUT), Alhaji Kola Akingbola and Chairman, Welders and Iron Bender Association of Nigeria, Mr. Alimi Okunoye said that since the beginning of the strike action, the people of the state have been feeling negative impact of the strike, as it has paralysed every facet of commercial activities.
They appealed to workers to allow Governor Aregbesola more time to revamp the comatose economy of the state so as to give the people their desired dividend of democracy.
They expressed solidarity with the Governor for his commitment to the good of the people through the laudable programmes like the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), O’-Clean, Osun Rural Empowerment and Agricultural Progamme (O-REAP), and others that they noted have brought relief to many homes since they were initiated by the Aregbesola administration.
They however appealed to the government and the workers to imbibe the culture of dialogue and come back to a round table, with a view to ensuring that the people of the state feel the impact of good governance.
Welcoming the protesting artisans to the state secretariat during their separate protests, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere commended the artisans for identifying with the state government over its appeal to the workers on the strike action.
He explained that the government representatives had called the labour leaders in the state to several meetings where they were presented all relevant documents relating to the financial capacity of the state and begged them, but all to no avail.
Akere added that the government has agreed to implement the N18,000 minimum wage for workers from level one to seven, while increment has also been done to the salaries of other categories of workers, adding that a Wages and Salaries Commission would be set up to handle the continuous increment of salaries of workers in the state.
According to him, the government of Aregbesola was ready to pay the minimum wage for all the workers in the state, but it could not be done across board once and for all as being demanded by workers, saying that as the finances of the state improves, the minimum wage would be implemented for other categories of workers.
The commissioner then appealed to all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to appeal to the sense of reasoning of the striking workers to resume work for the government to continue its developmental projects.
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