Soji Ajibola, Ibadan
Hundreds of physically challenged persons across the 33 local government areas of Oyo State on Monday stormed the government secretariat, protesting against TESCOM’s recruitment exercise.
The protesters, who blocked the roads leading to the state government Secretariat and occupied the main entrance, caused heavy gridlock along the UI-Secretariat road.
According to them, the commission has short-changed them in the exercise.
The protesters were demanding more slots in the non-teaching arm of the Oyo State TESCOM.
They alleged that they applied as non-teaching staff of TESCOM but some of them were disqualified.
It was gathered that TESCOM had released the list of 7,000 successful candidates for non-teaching jobs and that only 149 physically challenged persons were shortlisted.
While demanding more slots, the aggrieved protesters urged Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene.
FirstNews observed that security agents, including the Police, DSS, Amotekun Corps and NSCDS, were drafted to the main gate of the Secretariat to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
One of the protesters, Adegbuyi Adekunle, appealed to Makinde to intervene.
“We are protesting because of the TESCOM appointment, the non-teaching job,” he said.
“Most of our people were not given the appointment. Instead of giving to our people, the disabled, the able people have taken over.
“They are supposed to give us 5 per cent; that is 350. They gave us 149 instead of 350. That is the reason we are here. We want the Governor to prevail. We want the Governor to intervene.”
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Post Primary Schools Teaching Service Commission TESCOM on Monday released the second batch list of successful candidates for teaching appointment in the state.
Last month, the commission released the first batch names of successful candidates of would be teachers.
The commission advised applicants to visit the following website to check their status.
The list contains names of 1099 successful applicant