Staff of the Oyo State Water Corporation on Monday, protested non availability of chemical to process water for the general use of residents of the state.
The protest was organised under the umbrella of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees(AUPCTRE)
The staff who also began an indefinite strike, were seen blocking the two major entrance of the state secretariat, Agodi, thereby obstructing free flow of vehicular movement along Bodija – Total Garden road in the state capital.
Some of the staff carried placards bearing different inscriptions; such as ‘provide chemical so that we can work; provide good water for the good people of Oyo state; today is World water day but we are not celebrating; Seyi Makinde save us; don’t kill water of Oyo state and enough is enough of suffering and smiling in water corporation.
Addressing newsmen on the position of the staff, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed – the AUPCTRE secretary, who doubles as the state’s NLC Secretary, said the strike would be indefinite.
Mohammed who explained that the union had exploited all options to resolve the matter before now with no solution, declared that only the intervention of Gov Makinde would end the protest/strike.
He also alleged that government recently gave approval for the sale of water pipes procured by last administration bought from Germany, which would amount to billions of naira “and we don’t know where that money too is going.”
“Today is World water day, but staff of the water corporation are showing their displeasure towards the state government for not honouring our demands.
“Some of our demands are deductions which are rights of workers have not been paid; there is no provision of chemicals for the corporation to produce water for the people of Oyo state.
‘We heard that N1billion was approved for the procurement of the chemicals but we don’t see chemicals up till now.
“We have told government to increase the corporation subvention since last year February when minimum wage agreement was signed but nothing happened till now.
“Also the Corporation General Manager has been suspended without any indictment and acting GM has not been appointed for replacement since.” He stated.
Mohammed however, said that the indefinite strike would be called off once all the deductions, ” be it cooperative, union dues, are paid up till January 2021.
“increment in monthly subvention, supply of chemicals to the Corporation and appointment of substantive General Manager to guide against clueless management.”
He implored his members to be peaceful and civil while carrying out the protest.
The chairman of the State Advisory Committee, Sen. Hosea Agboola, while commenting on the protest, said that the whole issues would be resolved before the close of work on Monday.
He implored the agrieved workers to give room for dialogue.