Workers of the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) yesterday began a protest against the failure of the state government to implement the new minimum wage approved by the federal government, as well as the growing disparity in compensation between senior and junior officers.
The protest took place at 8 a.m. in the Alagbaka area of Akure, the state capital.
Investors King gathered that workers in other sectors had already benefited from the new minimum wage, fueling feelings of unfairness and discontent among those yet to receive similar adjustments.
It was reported that protesters blocked the major road leading to ODIRS offices to demonstrate their discontent, vowing not to back down until their demands were met.
The workers, during the solidarity rally, called for compensation reform and the immediate implementation of the new minimum wage, displaying placards bearing various inscriptions.
Junior workers revealed their frustration over compensation disparities, pointing out that they contribute just as much to organizational development as senior workers.
Additionally, the protesters accused the ODIRS management of being insensitive to their longstanding requests, vowing not to return to their offices until the issue was resolved in their favor.
In response to the protest, the special adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Union Matters, Comrade Bola Taiwo, described the protest as a minor issue, stating that the state government had complied with federal regulations regarding the minimum wage.
Taiwo emphasized that the issue would be resolved promptly.
“This protest is a minor issue because all core civil servants, including local government employees, parliamentary staff, and political appointees, have received their salaries,” he said.
“The affected workers at ODIRS are from the private sector, not public servants, but the governor directed yesterday that they should not be paid the old salary but the new minimum wage,” he added.