Kamarudeen
National Association of Nigerian Students, Ekiti State chapter, on Thursday took to the streets to protest the five months salaries owed workers by Governor Ayodele Fayose.
The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, accused Fayose of not being sincere and concerned about the plight of the striking workers.
Some of the placards read, “He who works deserved to be paid,” “Workers are dying of hunger,” and “NANS say no to taxation of school pupils in Ekiti” among others.
They chanted anti-government songs, calling on Fayose to pay salaries of workers to save them from untimely death.
The protesters, comprising representatives from different higher institutions in Ekiti state, converged on Fajuyi roundabout and moved through the governor’s office along Okesa, taking over the major road.
The president of NANS, Ekiti Chapter, Shina Awopeju, lamented that the strike had brought setback to the education sector in Ekiti state and also disrupted ongoing examinations.
“If Mr governor refused to pay salaries, we won’t relent in our protest, the protest will continue till next week. National Association of Students in Ekiti state is totally against taxation of students in Ekiti state.”
The president of the student union of College of Education Ikere-Ekiti, Olajide Ebenezer, said the entire students in Ekiti state were totally disappointed in the state government’s handling of the strike matter.
“Governor Fayose has been saying no money in Ekiti state, he has been shouting everyday, while N1.7b was found in his personal account, and he keeps saying no money in the state. He keeps saying he can’t sell his wife and children to pay workers. We implore him to pay and if he refused to pay we shall embark on massive protest by next week.”
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