The workers, who converged at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry block of the government office in Akure, the state capital, said they had had enough with the state government's “empty promises.” They also condemned the Governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko, for politicking and running daily to Abuja, without minding if civil servants in the state were paid.
Civil servants in Ondo State have threatened to strike by the end of closing hours on Monday if the state government still refuses to pay them three months of outstanding salary.
The workers, who converged at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry block of the government office in Akure, the state capital, said they had had enough with the state government's “empty promises.” They also condemned the Governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko, for politicking and running daily to Abuja, without minding if civil servants in the state were paid.
SaharaReporters gathered that the workers were owned outstanding salaries of three months-September, October, and November.
Teachers in public schools of the state have also expressed anger over going unpaid for four months.
Addressing the workers, the State Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC), Oluwole Adeleye, said members were ready for a showdown with the government Tuesday since all efforts to get its attention have failed.
Mr. Adeleye revealed that when the council met with the state government on behalf of the workers in August they were told that the state was facing serious financial problems as a result of dwindling resources.
“The government called us in August [to say] that the state was facing dwindling resources and that the allocation went down and we should bear with them. We told them we shall continue to bear with them [but later] realized they were playing games with us,” he said.
“If by the close of work on Monday we don’t receive our salaries we will have no choice than to go on strike to press home our demand. The demands are legitimate. Its our salary, not a privilege."
He vowed to lead a massive protest in the state if the government took their threats as “empty statements."