Ondo revenue workers protest delayed minimum wage

Staff of the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service staged a peaceful protest on Thursday, demanding the implementation of the new minimum wage.

The protesters, primarily junior staff, voiced their displeasure over the alleged pay disparity between senior executives and junior employees within the organisation.

Arriving at their offices as early as 8 a.m., the workers blocked the entrance to the office and the main road leading to the area, vowing not to return to work until their demands were addressed.

One of the protesters, identified as Isah, criticised the management for its perceived insensitivity toward junior staff.

“We have tabled our grievance before the management, but no action has been taken, hence this action,” he said.

The protesting workers called on the state government to urgently address their concerns, arguing that they deserved better remuneration.

Responding to the protest, the Special Adviser to the Ondo Governor on Union Matters, Bola Taiwo, assured the workers that their demands would be addressed swiftly.

“This protest is a minor issue because all core civil servants, including local government employees, parliamentary staff, and political appointees, have received their salaries,” Taiwo said.

He explained that the protesting ODIRS workers were categorised as private-sector employees rather than public servants.

According to Taiwo, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was away in Abuja, had directed that the workers be paid under the new minimum wage system.

“The governor instructed that they should not be paid the old salary but the new minimum wage,” Taiwo stated.

He added that while the workers had not formally submitted their demands, the state government was taking steps to resolve the issue.

 “The minimum wage approval will be signed within the next 30 minutes. There is no salary problem in Ondo State. If they h ave unresolved issues with their management, they need to present their demands formally.”