Ondo Workers Mark Day with Fasting, Prayers

Ondo Workers Mark Day with Fasting, Prayers

Unlike previous occasion when drums were rolled out to celebrate Workers' Day, workers in Ondo State yesterday marked the day with fasting and prayers in a church.

The service held at the Holy Order of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church located at Ijoka area of Akure, was attended mainly by the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The service witnessed prayer session for the recovery of the nation's economy which they believed would have multiplier effect on the economy of the state.

The leadership of the NLC and TUC had earlier asked all workers to stay in their homes and embark on fasting and prayers.

The state Chairman of the State Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Sunday Adeleye, said the prevailing economic situation in the country has called for prayers, adding that the workers unions in the state decided to seek the face of God before taking any decision.

He said this year's edition of workers day does not call for celebration unlike before.

"In the last five months, workers in the state have not received salary and you can imagine the effect and trauma of this on every home.

"The non-payment of salaries has turned parents who are civil servants to irresponsible parents because they cannot put food on the table, pay school fees, and how do we call these workers who have not been paid salaries for the past five months to come out and celebrate May Day," he said.

Adeleye disclosed that the joint executive members of the union in the state would meet during the week to deliberate on the next line of action.

Speaking on the governors' call for fiscal restructuring, the JNC chairman said this might not put an end to the challenges of irregular and non-payment of workers’ salaries unless the state governors are prudent in their spending.

Also speaking, the state Chairman of the TUC, Soladoye Ekundaye, said the union would continue to protect the interest of workers in the state by ensuring prompt payment of workers salary.

"We have been enduring, although we understand the situation, notwithstanding, the Bible says the labourer deserves his wage. So after the May Day celebration, we will meet, we have waited for this long, with the promise that the state government would do whatever it could within its power to pay by Friday but they were unable to pay,” he said.