Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Sunday appealed to the organized labour to exercise patience and dialogue and as well have a rethink over its proposed nationwide industrial action in order not to compound the already tensed situation in the country.
The workers have fixed October 3 for the commencement of the nationwide strike which it said would be total and indefinite
Oyebanji, in his statewide address to mark the 27 years of creation of Ekiti State and the 63rd independence anniversary of Nigeria, appealed to labour.
“We cannot afford to compound the already tensed situation by shutting down this extremely fragile economy. It will be like cutting one’s nose to spite one’s own face.
“Whatever may be gained thereafter will be nothing but a temporary victory which would have done an incalculable damage to the economy and which may be difficult to reverse in the immediate.
“Therefore, I want to appeal to the organized labour movement to exercise absolute patience and dialogue in resolving the current economic challenges”, he said.
The governor added, “A hot pap must be sipped gently so as not to cause more damage unto an already precarious situation. Accordingly, government and labour have been in constant engagements for sometimes, I am pleased to note that the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is confronting these challenges frontally and the country will be better for it in the long run.
“On our part, we (Ekiti) have undertaken some interventions to cushion the impact of the subsidy removal on our people. Apart from the direct food distribution and cash transfer to the most vulnerable, government has also made buses available to staff and students, especially in the state capital, to ameliorate the cost of transportation.
“We therefore appeal to our local governments to replicate this in their respective local government areas.
Oyebanji hailed the efforts of the founding fathers as well all past governors of the state.
