There was traffic gridlock on roads leading to the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan on Monday as scores of physically challenged persons across the state embarked on a peaceful rally.
The protesters agitated against what they described as discrimination in the recruitment of personnel into the Teaching Service Commission in the state.
Governor Seyi Makinde had directed the Teaching Service Commission to recruit 7,000 teachers; 2,000 non-teaching staff and 1,600 night guards.
The protest by the physically challenged persons came after the release of a list of 7,000 successful candidates for the non-teaching TESCOM job in the state.
Of this number, the aggrieved group claimed that only a total of 149 physically challenged persons were shortlisted.
The protesters paralysed vehicular movements on routes leading to the state secretariat in Ibadan for more than an hour insisting that they should be given fair share.
Querying the basis of their disqualification for the non-teaching staff of TESCOM, the protesters said more slots should be given to them.
One of the aggrieved protesters urged Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene in the matter by mandating the state teaching service commission to consider more of their member.
Security agents, including the police, men of the Amotekun Corps and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Commission were drafted to the main gate of the state secretariat to prevent break down of law and order.
Adegbuyi Adekunle, who spoke on behalf of the group, said, “We are protesting because of the TESCOM appointment, the non-teaching job.
“Most of our people were not given the appointment. The disabled and the able people have taken over. We are supposed to be given 5 per cent which is 350 in all but they gave us only 149. That is the reason we are here. We want the governor to prevail in this matter. We want the governor to intervene.”
A government official, speaking anonymously on the protest lamented the protest, saying that the current administration had been considerate by ensuring that all sectors of the society are fairly treated.
She said, “The protest was embarrassing as it crippled the business of governance and resulted in traffic congestion around Bodija, Mokola and Agodi axis of the city.
