Biting Economic Policies: Protest rocks Oyo, Osun states

A coalition of civil society groups in Osun State have taken to the streets to protest against the economic hardship experienced in the country.

The protesters, who converged at the Ayetoro area of Osogbo at about 8 am, marched to major areas of the city with placards to press home their demands.

They are against the recent petrol subsidy removal, Naira floating and other reforms imposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu within about two months of his assumption of office.

The chairman of the coalition, Comrade Waheed Lawal, said there was no gainsaying the fact that there is poverty, hunger, confusion and frustration in the land.

He added that anger was bottling up and that it was just a time for Nigerians to vent their anger.

The protesters called on the federal government to put in place palliatives to cushion the effects of the removal of petrol subsidy on Nigerians.

They also demanded an end to the Naira floating policy and the reversal of other economic policies that have made life difficult for Nigerians.

Similarly, civil servants in Oyo State, on Monday, locked the state secretariat at Agodi in Ibadan, as they protest against issues affecting them.

The workers were demanding palliatives, an upward review of pension allowances, and payment of salary deduction among others.

They are also demanding payment of leave bonuses, payment of gratuities to retirees who have stagnated since the year 2021 and release of promotion letters for the years 2021 and 2022.

The protesters were workers and pensioners under the banners of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, and their affiliates.