Hundreds of traders storm Ibadan, appeal for truce in govt/NLC crisis

Worried by the continuous absence from work and schools by angry workers in Oyo State in compliance with the ongoing strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the traders in the state, under the banner of ‘concerned mothers’ stormed Ibadan, the state capital, with an appeal to the government and the workers to sheath their sword.

The mothers in their hundreds, from across the 33 local government areas of the state and notable markets in the city, stormed Iyaganku Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in a mass movement of unification of various groups of market women and passionately appealed to the workers to allow the renewed efforts of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration to appease them to work.

And worried that the Monday’s resumption order of Ajimobi’s administration to the teachers and students could cause another drama, the mothers said it was high time the two parties returned to the negotiation table so as to safeguard the future of the pupils, whose continued stay at home could hamper their academic performance and future aspirations.

The women, who also stressed that an idle hand is a devil’s workshop, were led by their leaders like the Iyaloja of Ibadanland, Mrs Labake Lawal, Iyadunni Lawal and Mrs Mutilade Adedeji, at the press conference at the Dapo Aderogba Hall, Iyaganku, Ibadan, begged Governor Ajimobi to be father to all stakeholders involved in the current labour/government/ students/teachers face off in the state.

They added that they have engaged the state government over the salary issue, saying the state government explained the financial status to them, which in turn made them to know the governor meant well for the welfare of all, but for the current financial status of the state.