Ondo Internal Revenue Workers Protest Non-Payment Of Minimum Wage

Workers of the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) took to streets on Thursday, shutting down the revenue office in Akure to protest the non-implementation of the new minimum wage.

The ODIRS workers, who are mainly junior staff, are protesting over their non-inclusion in the new wage system of the establishment.

The protesters who arrived as early as 8 am lamented that senior executives of the office got a higher increase in their salary with compensation compared with their own “meagrely” salary.

The junior workers who blocked all the entrances to the office were armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, vowing not to return to their duty post until the plight was addressed.

Peoples Gazette learned that the junior workers, who made up 70 percent of the workforce at the IGR office, had been on an N55,000 wage since 2019.

One of the protesting workers, who simply identified herself as Bisi, said she and her aggrieved colleagues had complained about not being paid the new minimum wage to the authorities of the ODIRS.

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She explained that they did not get any positive response to their plight because they, however, decided to block all the entrances to the office and show their grievances.

Accusing some of the senior management of embezzlement, the workers called on Mr Aiyedatiwa to intervene, adding that workers in the state deserved better remuneration of their wage.

She added, “It’s unfair if senior workers are getting the new minimum wage and the junior workers are not getting. We have met with management, but they seem to be less concerned about our plights. Many of them are corrupt and even embezzling the funds in the ODIRS, yet the same people are getting increments in their salary. We would not allow this, and we shall continue to protest.’’

Another protesting worker, Aderonke Alasoadura, said he recalled that during the election, the governor’s voice rang loud with pledges of change on the new minimum wage.

“Among his most celebrated promises was the increase of the minimum wage to N73,000. This pledge, a beacon of hope for many struggling workers, was formally announced as implemented two months ago. Yet, today, it stands exposed as a partial truth. While some ministries have seen the light of this promise fulfilled, others, notably the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service, remain shrouded in darkness. Imagine the shock and despair of ODIRS staff who, rather than receiving their due, were met with a patronizing plea from their chairman to “bear with the government.” Bear with the government? Are ODIRS employees and other affected agencies not integral to the machinery of the state?”Mr Alasoadura said.

When contacted on the phone, Special Adviser on Union Matters to Governor Aiyedatiwa on Union Matters, Bola Taiwo, told the Gazette that the state government was on top of the demand of the protesting workers.

Mr Taiwo, who described the protest as a “minor issue,” explained that the protesting ODIRS tabled their demands before the government and promised it would be resolved.

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He added, “We have listened and addressed the protesting workers. When the Director of Finance and Administration arrived, we reviewed the salary details, and the governor’s directive was signed immediately. The minimum wage approval will be signed within the next 30 minutes. There is no salary problem in Ondo State. If they have unresolved issues with their management, they need to present their demands formally. So, we have communicated with them and passed on necessary information, and resolved any outstanding management issues. This is the first time such a protest has happened, and we are ready to engage with them in good faith.’’

Recall that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in November announced the payment of N73,000 as minimum wage for civil servants in the state.

The increase from N18,000 came after the federal government approved a sum of N70,000 for Nigerian workers in the country.