Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has made a fresh plea to the state’s striking workers to return to work in the interest of the people.
Mimiko, who made the plea on Friday in Akure, urged the workers to consider the effects their actions were having on the people, especially those with health challenges.
He said the workers’ action had begun having negative effect on patients in the state’s hospitals.
The governor said he was ready to pay health, local government workers and teachers to enable his administration to generate some money.
Mimiko, therefore, appealed to them to call off the one-week old strike and consider his commitment not to retrench any worker in spite of the dwindling resources accruable to the state.
While stressing that the continuation of the strike would retard the economic growth of the state, the governor asked the people of the state to see the current situation in the country as a collective challenge that “we must face and proffer solution to.”
According to him, his administration has been prudent with the meagre resources accrued to the state to ensure adequate security of lives and property, as well as provide infrastructure.
The governor said, “We are in a very difficult time in Nigeria and I have absolutely nothing against your protest. I can’t imagine somebody working diligently or not too diligently, but worked for five months without pay, especially in an economy that depends mainly on salary.
“Your protest has been peaceful and that is what democracy is all about. People must be able to ventilate their feelings just like you are ventilating yours. But it is important for us to know the truth because it is the truth that can set us free.”
