Majority of workers in Ekiti State shunned the 2018 May Day rally held on Tuesday at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The boycott of the celebration is believed to be connected with the arrears of salaries owed them by the state government.
Out of the two covered terraces in the stadium, only one was filled up by leaders and members mobilized to participate in the march past while the other one was sparsely filled.
All the uncovered terraces were empty throughout the ceremony. A labour leader said in confidence that workers shunned the rally in protest against the non-payment of salaries.
Governor Ayo Fayose at the occasion cleared the arrears of promotions for 2015, 2016 and 2017. A total number of 40,100 workers benefited from the promotion.
But the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Ade Adesanmi, said the workers are hungry urging Fayose to pay the arrears owed them.
The NLC chief also demanded the payment of gratuities and pensions of retirees many of whom he said are suffering.
Adesanmi said: “Your Excellency, the state of welfare of workers in Ekiti State is begging for an urgent action.
“I need not to tell you that workers are hungry, it is clearly written on the faces of all workers and this is negatively affecting our productivity and input both at home and in the office.
“The aftermath effect of which has been extended to our children and other dependents like our aged parents.
“It is pertinent to note that for state workers, their salaries between December 2017 and April 2018 is outstanding (5 months). For workers in our subverted institutions, the last salary that was paid was October 2017 (6 months).
“The situation of workers in at the local government needs declaration of state of emergency; one wonders how they live up to their expectation as parents.
“The last salary collected by them was August 2017 (8 months outstanding).”
Fayose, however, assured that the outstanding salaries will be paid saying: “Up to the last day of my departure, your interests will be protected.
“I will not be a debtor of salaries, with God, all things are possible. I will not leave here a debtor of salaries.”
