By Dayo Johnson

Akure—WORKERS in Ondo State yesterday embarked on a two day warning strike to press home their demand for payment of their September and October dedections by the state government.

Consequently, gates leading to all government ministries, agencies and parastatals were locked by labour leaders as early as 6:30am yesterday.

The leadership of the workers had last week indicated that they would embark on the strike if government continues to turn deaf ears to their entitlements.

They alleged that government refused to remit to their banks the deductions for the two months.

The state Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, JNC, Mr Sunday Adeleye said in Akure that the strike was sequel to government failure to pay their entitlements.

Adeleye said that, “if our request is not attended to after the warning strike, thereafter, total strike shall be declared without reservations. Workers and the entire citizens are not fools.

Non-payment of all deductions in the salary shows government’s insensitivity to the plight of civil servants in the state hence the need for the strike.”

“The non-payment   of all deductions such as cooperatives, shilling funds and month loan repayment deductions among others for the month of September, October, November and December 2014 by the state government have exposed government   height of insensitivity to the plight of workers and masses in general”

“The mood of workers and the entire populace in the state are full of hopeless, recurrent disappointment, disenfranchisement, poverty ridden, betrayal of trust and   over-burden”

Teachers in Public primary and secondary schools have joined in the strike

Pupils and students who reported in their school to continue with their on-going one term examination were sent back by their teachers

The Special Adviser to the governor on Union Matter Dayo Fadahunsi appealed to the workers to return to their office so as to  allow government to continue with the on-going dialogue with labour leaders.

Fadahunsi said that government will continue to priotise the welfare of its workers but pleaded for their understanding in the face of the economic realities facing the Country.