Be orderly in your protests, Aregbesola tells labour unions

Aregbesola, Osun state governor

Osun State governor, Mr  Rauf Aregbesola,  has urged labour unions in the state to be orderly when participating in their protests over removal of fuel subsidy which will commence on Monday January 9.
He said he  was not ready to influence the protest of the labour unions in the state over the removal of fuel subsidy, but urged them to ensure that they do it in a violent-free manner.
He said this in Osogbo, Osun State,  after a meeting  with leaders of  the organised labour held at the Governor’s Lodge, Osogbo.
Aregbesola said it was legitimate for workers to express their views and opinions about issues concerning them and the society.
He also reiterated the stand of his government and his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that they did not  support  the removal of the  fuel subsidy , just as he  described the removal of the subsidy as “satanic”.
According to him, “It is legitimate for workers to express their views and opinions about issues concerning them and the society, but that must not degenerate to violence, crisis or anarchy. With their maturity, I do not think that the protest would lead to destruction of lives and properties or disruption of economic and governmental activities”.
Expressing  confidence in the ability of the labour leaders to manage their affairs in a manner  that would not lead to destruction of lives and properties, he said  “I can say with confidence that Osun will remain a model of peace and good conduct, as we have established from the very beginning that this is the state of the virtuous and the labour will establish that in whatever they want to do”.
He, however, disclosed  that part of what was discussed at the Federal Executive Council  meeting was how to maintain industrial harmony in the state, saying that the unions and the government had resolved to maintain the existing stable relationship in the New Year.
“I want to believe that the unions are independent and my concern is to ensure that our state is not in any way brought to a crisis situation by unnecessary industrial unrest. My concern is to guarantee industrial harmony”.
The Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Adetunji Oladele said that though, the state chapter of the labour unions would participate in the protest , if directive was received  from the national body, but they would ensure the protest was peaceful.
Source