Workers of Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission(OSOPADEC) on Tuesday shut down the office of the state Accountant General over nonpayment of their salaries.
Leading the workers, Comrade Oyesanmi Ilesanmi, state Chairman of Amalgamate Union of Public Corporations and Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees, stormed the premises of the Accountant General's office at Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital, protesting nonpayment of their October, November and December salaries despite approval by the governor.
The angry and hungry workers, who came in large numbers, started chanting derogatory songs against the Accountant General, Mr. Laolu Akindolire, alleging the administration which has been digging a hole to fill another of using money meant for their salaries to pay deductions of civil servants in the state.
They alleged that it was the Accountant General who was responsible for the delay in payment of the salaries.
Initially some senior officials of the Accountant General came out and lied to the protesters that their boss was not around, urging the workers to choose two among their leaders to meet the Accountant General later in the day, but this fell into deaf ears as the protesters insisted on seeing the Accountant General and threatened to occupy the office till he addressed them.
When the protest became intense, the Accountant General, who had been holing up in his office, came out to address the angry workers.
His appearance was greet with unprintable abusive words and chants, which lasted for about ten minutes before their leaders could prevail on them to calm down and listen to what the Accountant General had to say.
Addressing the protesters, Mr. Akindolire admitted as claimed by the workers that the salaries had been approved for payment by the governor.
He explained that though the payment of the salaries had been approved, there was no cash backing, therefore his office could not pay their salaries.
Security agencies in the state were along the line invited to maintain peace in the premises.
