Protesting Ondo workers drag accountant-general into bank to pay owed salaries

There was drama, and then there was drama in Akure, Ondo. Workers forcefully dragged the state accountant-general Felix Ajibokun to banks to begin paying workers salary. It came as Governor Olusegun Mimiko was commissioning the popular Arakale Road, one of the 100 projects marked for commissioning before the termination of his eight years leadership. The […]

There was drama, and then there was drama in Akure, Ondo.

Workers forcefully dragged the state accountant-general Felix Ajibokun to banks to begin paying workers salary.

It came as Governor Olusegun Mimiko was commissioning the popular Arakale Road, one of the 100 projects marked for commissioning before the termination of his eight years leadership.

The aggrieved workers, who earlier picketed the office of the Accountant –General at Alagbaka were being owed six months salaries.

Led by the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) Chairman, Mr. Sunday Adeleye and the State Chairman of the NLC, Bosede Daramola and other union leaders, the aggrieved workers said it would be suicidal to celebrate Christmas without pay especially in the face of the current hardship in the country.

They are begging the government for one-month salary to enable them celebrate the Christmas.

It was gathered that the workers took that action having been informed that the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko had directed the AG to pay the workers before the holiday.

But, Ajibokun, said to be due for retirement from service today (Friday), had allegedly refused to commence the payment.

Adeleye told newsmen that the union leaders recently met Governor Olusegun Mimiko and they both resolved that the workers should be paid a month for them to have money to celebrate the Christmas.

 

He said, "About four days ago, we met with the governor and the commissioner for finance who directed the AG to pay the workers’ salaries so that everybody can go home with something.  

“Since then, we have been coming here but he has been avoiding us until today (yesterday) when we asked him when he will pay us but, he said no workers will be paid until after Christmas.  

"For your information, this is man that will be retiring from service tomorrow and the system work in a way that he is the only one who has the legal right to pay workers and the moment he retires, it will take government up to three weeks to appointment another AG.

"Let me tell you, people are dying. What manner of parent are you, when you cannot buy your child a T-shirt.  

He added, "We will continue to keep vigil in this premises until the AG is ready to pay the workers," referring to the bank where they were with the AG.

Ajibokun, however blamed poor banking network for the reason for the delay of the payment saying the banks need to improve on their services.