Workers Block Mimiko from Govt. House; Reject Plea To End Strike Without Money

Striking civil servants in Ondo State on Thursday blocked the main gate to Government House in Akure, thus preventing Governor Olusegun Mimiko from entering his place of residence.

The workers commenced the industrial action last week Wednesday to protest the non-payment of their 5-month salaries in Ondo State, one of the states collecting 13% derivation every month.

The governor, who was forced to come down from his vehicle to address the protesters, pleaded with them to suspend the strike, claiming the state did not have enough money to pay the salary arrears.

The protesting workers, led by the State Joint Negotiation Council chairman, Sunday Adeleye; the NLC state Chairman, Bosede Daramola; and her TUC counterpart, Soladoye Ekundayo, rejected the governor’s plea.

Mimiko said the government was ready to pay health and local government workers and teachers, to enable it to inject some money into the state economy, adding that when health workers resumed work, they would be able to meet the medical challenges of the people.

The governor noted that his administration was considerate and not insensitive to the workers' plight.

Mimiko appealed to them to call off the one-week old strike and considered his commitment not to retrench any worker in spite of the dwindling resources.

He added, “We are in a very difficult time in Nigeria and I have absolutely nothing against your protest. I can’t imagine somebody working diligently or not too diligently but worked for five months without pay, especially in an economy that depends mainly on salary.

“Your protest has been peaceful and that is what democracy is all about. People must be able to ventilate their feelings just like you are ventilating yours. But it is important for us to know the truth because it is the truth that can set us free.”

But the governor effort to convince the workers fell into deaf ears as some of them continued to shout “no salary, no work”, intermittently.

Responding, the state chairman of JNC, Adeleye, declared that until the workers had a signal that the state government was ready to pay their salary arrears, the indefinite strike would continue.