Ondo: Mimiko Cleans up Akure, Pleads to Striking Workers

The Governor of Ondo state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko,
on Thursday led his team to clean up the city of
Akure, Ondo state capital.
This move became necessary following an industrial
action embarked upon by the state workers which
has left heaps of refuse along commercial areas
within the city.

The Ondo workers had last week Wednesday
embarked on strike to an indefinite strike to press
for the payment of their salaries. The development
brought about heaps of refuse in the state capital.

Worried by the heaps of refuse littering Akure
metropolis, Governor Mimiko led some state
executive members to clean up the city. The team
stopped at the ijomu junction on Oba Adesida road
in Akure to carry out the cleaning exercise.

Addressing traders, governor Mimiko said he would
not open his eyes and allow outbreak of diseases.

"The heaps of refuse as a result of the strike has
clearly shown that government spends a lot in
making the state clean and healthy for the people.

I can assure you that this administration will always
do its best to ensure healthy environment
irrespective of the ongoing strike by workers".
Mimiko said.

He said he had directed those in charge of cleaning
the streets to go back to duty as they are not civil
servants and should not be affected by the strike.
In the same news, the governor has said the inability
of government to pay salaries was due to national
economic crunch.

Mimiko said this while addressing workers at
government house ground immediately after the
cleaning exercise.

The governor said if the Federal government pays
the reimbursement of N9.5M expended on road
projects and about $100M of excess deduction of
Paris Club debt, the state will be capable of settling
workers wages.

His words; "The Federal government is owing us. If
they pay all they are owing us, we won't owe any
arrears. We will even have a buffer to keep to a little
and keep augmenting.

"When we did reconciliation on Paris club debt
settlement, we observed that the Federal
government over deducted our money. What was
deducted from our money was more than our share
of the Paris club debt. What was deducted from
Ondo state fund was over $100m-excess deduction.

"Also, The federal government had come for
verification of roads we built on its behalf and our
own share should be N9billion. We have clamoured
for the payment of these funds to pay our workers
because our people are suffering. We hope the
Federal government yields to our call since they
have given us their word"

He said the non payment of salary was not peculiar
to the state as about 30 state of the federation are
currently owing.

Dr. Mimiko who said he feels the pains of the
workers occasioned by the non payment of salary
assured that he would do everything humanly
possible to pay.

While fielding question from a worker who inquired
to know the wage bill of political appointees and if
also they have not been paid for months, the
governor said the wage bill of political appointees
stands at N84M and none of the workers are ever
paid ahead of civil servants.

He appealed to the striking workers to call off the
strike in the interest of the generality of the people
and the state development.

Meanwhile, the council of Ondo state Obas and
Traditional rulers are currently meeting with labour
leaders in Akure with a view to ending the ongoing
strike.

The meeting at the instance of the Council chairman
and Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Adesimbo Kiladejo, is
also being attended by his colleagues like the Deji of
Akure and the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri
Momoh.

Labour on the other hand is being represented by
chairman of the joint Negotiating Council, Sunday
Adeleye, the NLC Chairman, Bosede Daramola, his
TUC counterpart, Soladoye Ekundayo and chairmen
and secretaries of all affiliate unions.