Workers of the Ondo State Electricity Board took to the streets on Monday, staging a protest against the state government's failure to regularise the appointments of long-serving temporary staff. The demonstration, which took place at the board’s headquarters in Akure, the state capital, resulted in the shutdown of operations for several hours, effectively barring employees from accessing their offices.

The protesters voiced their dissatisfaction not only regarding job regularisation but also expressed strong opposition to the alleged planned removal of the board’s General Manager, Ogunmakinwa Olabanji. Holding placards with messages such as "Enough is Enough," "Our GM Must Stay," and "No to Injustice," the workers called for immediate action to address their grievances.

A significant point of contention among the protesters was the plight of temporary staff, many of whom have reportedly served for several years yet earn as little as N15,000 monthly. The workers accused certain unnamed government officials of obstructing efforts to regularise these positions, further exacerbating their frustrations.

Adebayo Michael, the State General Chairman of the Senior Civil Servants Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies, raised concerns about the proposed removal of Olabanji. He questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the decision, asking, "What are the conditions? What is his offence? Has any query been issued to him?" Michael emphasized that no official explanation had been provided to the workers, leading to widespread unease regarding the management of the board.

During the protest, Michael reiterated that labour leaders had previously addressed the issue during a meeting with the state Head of Service, expressing their disapproval of any attempts to replace the general manager. He stated, "Our position has been made known across the board that nobody can send that man out."

Another labour leader at the electricity board, Olowolafe Isaac, highlighted the dire conditions faced by temporary staff, many of whom endure harsh working environments while receiving minimal pay. He remarked, "These are part of our agitation and what we are fighting for. They are long-serving temporary staff."

The protesters made it clear that if their demands for the retention of the general manager and the regularisation of temporary staff are not met, they may resort to further industrial action. The peaceful demonstration aimed to draw attention to the pressing issues faced by the workers and to urge the government to take immediate action on their behalf.