By; OLADELE ADEDAYO, Ado-Ekiti.
National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ekiti State Chapter Thursday embarked on a protest against the failure of Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose to pay the salaries owed workers.
The protesters who carried placards with various inscriptions described Fayose insincere and lacks concern about the plight of the striking workers in the state.
Some of the placards read:”He who works deserved to be paid”, “Workers are dying of hunger”, “NANS say no to taxation of school pupils in Ekiti” among others.
They were chanting several songs calling on governor Fayose to pay salaries of workers as many of them are experiencing serious hardship.
The protesting students comprising representatives of different higher institutions in Ekiti state, converged at Fajuyi roundabout.
They moved through the governor’s office along Okesa area taking over the major roads.
However, civil servants in Ekiti state are been owed 5months salaries and other entitlements.
As a result civil servants in Ekiti embarked on indefinite strike to push for their demands.
Speaking with newsmen, president of NANS Ekiti Chapter, Comrade Shina Awopeju lamented that the strike had brought setback to the education sector in the state.
He said several school pupils have been staying at home for weeks and students who were writing exams before the commencement of the strike are now been made to stop their exams as the strike continues.
“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” he stressed.
Comrade Olajide Tope Ebenezer the President of the students union of College of Education Ikere-Ekiti said the entire students in Ekiti state are totally disappointed in the state government and also called on the Governor to as a matter of urgency pay workers salaries.
“Governor Fayose has been saying no money in Ekiti state, he has been shouting, saying that every day while N1.7b was found in his personal account, and he keep saying no money in the state. He keeps saying he can’t sell his wife and children to pay workers. We employ him to pay and if he refused to pay we shall embark on massive protest by next week” NANS threatened.
