Lepers Set To Take Over The Streets Of Ogun Over Non-Payment Of Stipends

A group of lepers in Ogun State have threatened to embark on
a street protest and invade local government secretariat next week over
government’s failure to pay them N10,000 monthly stipends for eight months.

The lepers issued the threat in a statement jointly signed
by their chairman, Hammed Jimoh and secretary, Lukman Folorunsho on Friday. The
statement particularly accused the Abeokuta North Local Government Council,
which is responsible for the payment of the stipends, of nonchalance towards
their plights.

They said if the stipend is not paid in the next one week,
they would take over the local government secretariat as well as storm the
streets in protest. The lepers also called on state governor, Ibikunle Amosun,
to use the occasion of the 40th birthday anniversary of the state to increase
the stipend. Hear them;

“We want to draw the attention of His Excellency to
non-readiness, unwillingness and disinterest of Abeokuta North Local Government
Council to pay our members their N10,000 since May 2015.

“We also want you to use the occasion of this anniversary to
increase the stipend,” the statement said.

The lepers lamented that the situation had caused death of
two of their members during the Christmas period due to hunger.

“Against this background, our request and appeal are that
the state governor should intervene by directing the local government area to
pay the outstanding stipends as a matter of urgency, within a week of appeal.

“We, lepers, are ready to relocate to Akomoje Local
Government Secretariat as a place of abode, after one week if nothing is done,”
the group said.