We Won’t Return To Work If Our Demands Are Not Met – Osogbo Power Station Workers
Workers at the Osogbo Regional Station of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, on Monday, vowed to withdraw their services to Nigerians as long as the federal government refused to yield to their demands.
The workers expressed their serious concerns and disappointment over the Federal Government’s failure to finalise and pass a new National Minimum Wage Act into law.
On Friday, the organised labour announced that they will be commencing a nationwide indefinite strike due to the refusal of the Federal Government to increase the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.
According to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, the strike will begin at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024.
READ: Strike: Labour Union Shuts Down National Grid As TCN Bemoans Action
Osun Defender observed that there was a power outage across the Osogbo metropolis as the striking labour union commenced their industrial action today.
The power outage caused by the industrial action, however, has paralysed business and economic activities.
A visit to the Osogbo TCN office showed the workers in absolute compliance as they shut the entrance to the premises with security operatives deployed.
Speaking to journalists at the entrance to the premises, Mr. Musibau Okunloye, Chairman of the Lagos Generation and Transmission Council, urged the Federal Government to reverse the recent hike in electricity tariff and do more in catering for the well of workers in the country.
He said, “Well, my appeal to the Federal government is just the same as what the Nigeria Labour Congress and TUC have said. They should listen to Labour. Labour is forced to be reckoned with.
“But in Nigeria today, we are seeing, labour being treated badly. So they should consider labour first in any policy that they want to come up with. Because this thing will cascade down the economy.
“This enforcement here, as members are outside the premises, will continue. We have withdrawn our services. As much as they are not ready to listen to our demands, we won’t return to work.
It was also observed that all government schools in Osogbo are in total compliance with the labour directive as the schools were shut.
However, some public schools along Oke-Ayepe area who are not in total compliance said the school was opened for the conduct of the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate examinations.
Some of the teacher on ground who preffered anonimity said the schools was only opened for candidates on are presently writing WAEC exam.
The Osun Government Secretariat in Osogbo, was aslo shut with security operatives were deployed to in front of it.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
