Pay us our salary, and not solidarity strike, Ekiti workers tell Fayose

Following the declaration by Governor Ayo Fayose that he was joining the workforce in Ekiti state to embark on indefinite strike, as solidarity, workers has to Fayose to hold his solidarity strike he declared on Friday in honour of the striking workers , saying “what we want is our money to alleviate our poverty”.

Governor Fayose had on Friday declared that he had placed himself on indefinite strike in solidarity with the workers, who had been on industrial action  for about two weeks over non-payment of five months outstanding salaries.

But organized labour in Ekiti State, who, however, commended the governor for  declaring solidarity strike, maintained that what the workers needed is at least payment of three months salaries to

actually authenticate the  sincerity of the self-imposed strike declared by Fayose.

The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in the State, Com. Odunayo  Adesoye, who spoke with newsmen in Ado Ekiti, stated that the level of poverty among the civil servants has become burdensome and unbearable to the extent that they have become beggars.

“We appreciate the governor for sharing from our pains and anguish. But the workers will appreciate and commend  him the more if he can pay at least two or three months salaries out of five months owed.

“Our situation has gone beyond  the governor declaring mere solidarity strike. We need more of actions now than talks because our situation is gradually becoming hopeless.

“Some of us have the intention of going to work, but no money to pay for transport fare. Some of us could not take two square meal a day. Some could not cook soup with ordinary fish, so our situation has gone beyond what anyone could trivialize.

“But I want to say that we are resolute to fight on, because it is an issue that borders on our welfare, careers  and prosperity.“We are hearing that the federal government want to give grants to states , so if Mr Governor could pay three  months now.

“it will be easy to use the grant to pay the remaining two months and still help in paying  for the subsequent months.We appeal to the workers to be law abiding . We want them to be civil, even in the face of provocation . By the grace of God, we shall all rejoice in the end”, he said.