Strike: Aregbesola has thrown Osun workers into pitiable condition ― SDP

THE Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Osun State, has chided the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led All Progressives Party (APC) government for non-payment of workers salaries, a condition it said “has turned the once productive workers at all levels in Osun State, into a bunch of pitiable citizens,” who can only bail themselves out through a strike action.

The state chairman of SDP, Dr Bayo Faforiji, who, in a statement on Wednesday, sympathised with the state workers in their present predicament, said, the party “feels the agony of workers, not only as humans but also as the biblical Noah’s ark, in this current era of APC’s sinking ship.”

“The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has turned the once productive workers at all levels in Osun state, into a bunch of pitiable citizens, hence the incessant industrial action and protests which is gradually degenerating into an economic mess for all and sundry,” SDP said.

To rescue the situation, the party called on the people of the state to have a rethink on its leadership, saying, “the only consolation for us is the opportunity for a change of leadership at the helm of affairs by the September 22 governorship election in Osun state.

The SDP said, “the workers’ situation in Osun State, though pathetic, must not lead to despair but an eye-opener to vote a trusted hand, who is the SDP governorship candidate, Senator (Dr) Iyiola Omisore, as governor.”

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“Workers and entire citizens of Osun State are enjoined to patiently wait for November 27, 2018, when the SDP, by God’s grace, will take over the running of Osun government to the admiration of all,” SDP said.

It contended that “despite the political gimmick employed by the APC-led administration of Mr Rauf Aregbesola to pay active workers their full entitlements only in July, to further lure them into voting wrongly for APC, the labour leadership under the auspices of Osun State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council has declared a three-day warning strike, beginning from Wednesday, August 29 to press home their demands.”

The party, lamenting the workers’ condition in the state, said, “it is indeed alarming, worrisome and unspeakable that workers, pensioners and retirees could be molested, intimidated and reduced to beggars in the name of “modulated salaries” incorporated by Aregbesola’s government.”

It also regretted that the workers, who had been battling with the situation since 2015, were prepared to engage the current administration in an imminent showdown, “should the government fail to respond positively to their demands.”

The SDP warned that “as stakeholders in the project of an egalitarian society, with inalienable rights of all citizens to get paid for jobs done or services rendered, the workers must not be left alone in their present travails from the APC.”