The Social Democratic Party (SDP), Osun State chapter, has berated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state for allegedly impoverishing workers through anti-masses policies.
It further accused the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration of turning workers in the state into “a bunch of pitiable citizens”, adding that the once productive workforce has been rendered redundant due to maladministration.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the Chairman of the party in the state, Dr Bayo Faforiji and made available to newsmen in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Faforiji accused the ruling party of deceiving the electorate with the intent of getting their votes in the forthcoming governorship election by paying full salaries in July.
He described the modulated salary scheme introduced by the government in which some section of the workers get 50 per cent of their salaries, while other get 75 per cent as a dark moment in the lives of workers.
“Despite the political gimmick employed by the APC-led administration of Ogbeni 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 3-day warning strike, beginning from Wednesday, August 29 to press home their demands.
“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.
“The workers, who have been battling with the situation since 2015, are now prepared to engage the current administration in an imminent showdown, should the government fails to respond positively to their demands.
“The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Osun state, 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.
“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”, the statement read.
The SDP chairman however described the governorship candidate of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore as a capable hand that would liberate the state.
He said, “the only consolation for us is the opportunity for change of leadership at the helm of affairs by the September 22nd governorship election in Osun state. 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 gubernatorial candidate, Sen. Dr. Iyiola Omisore, as governor.”
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