There is tension in Ondo State organised labour, following an allegation that about 600 local government workers attached to traditional rulers have been “tactically” sacked.
It was learnt that the names of the workers had been removed from the government’s pay role.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to challenge the government’s action.
Sources said the development came to the open, following the non-payment of May salaries to the palace workers.
It was learnt that they were being paid from local government areas’ purse.
The workers were said to have been employed into the councils and captured by remittal payment system during the administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
Sources said eight workers were captured for each first class traditional rulers and six for second class rulers. Others have two workers.
The removal of the workers’ names has been generating tension in various palaces.
There are allegations that more workers will be affected.
NLC Chairman Mrs Bosede Daramola said the congress will resist the action.
Mrs Daramola said the action contradicted the governor’s promise.
She said: “The workers, irrespective of who they were working directly with, were employed properly and captured under the remittal system.
“It is unacceptable for government to sack them and expose them to previous system when the workers were being paid indiscriminately by the monarchs they were working directly under.”
The union leader said the congress would not accept a situation whereby some monarchs would collect money meant for the workers and pay them pittance.
