By Ademakin James
Workers in Ondo State have turned down the payment of 80% salaries of September 2016 by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from the second tranche of the Paris Club loan refund, saying it is a grand plot to deny them of their legitimate earnings.
The civil servants accused Mr Akeredolu of forcefully introducing percentage and fractional salary payment into the state civil service.
In a statement issued in Akure, the Ondo state capital at the weekend, at the end of their meeting, labour leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the plan and called on government not to Ondo workers for granted.
The meeting was presided over by the state NLC chairman, Bosede Daramola, and her TUC counterpart, Soladoye Ekundayo.
The labour leaders said that they held meeting with some government representatives where it was agreed that 75 per cent of the second tranche of the Paris Club loan refund would be used to pay outstanding salaries of workers on Grade Level 1 to 14 in the state.
“If Governor Akeredolu’s administration can spend money left in the account by his predecessor, he should also pay in full the debt and salaries owed by Mimiko’s government whenever funds are available instead of using his aides to attack labour unions,” they said.
In his reaction, spokesman to governor Akeredolu, Segun Ajiboye, said the government had reacted according to the law.
“The governor has not violated any law over the salaries of workers or over the issue of Paris Club money but I believe the matter would be resolved amicably,” he stated.
