Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) workers, yesterday, protested over non-payment of the new minimum wage to them by the state government.

The protesting workers, who barricaded the roads leading to the office, lamented that they received the old salary after assurances that minimum wage would be paid.

According to the ODIRS members of staff, there is a sharp contrast between the allowances of top executives and the meagre wages of junior staff in the establishment.

The workers, carrying placards of various inscriptions, vowed to sustain the protest until the authorities met the demand, stressing that they had tabled their grievances before the management but no positive response.

The IRS workers, while accusing the management of the ODIRS of insensitivity to their plight, urged the state government to urgently look into their demands, saying that they deserve better remuneration as revenue officers.

However, Special Adviser to the Governor on Union Matters, Bola Taiwo, described the protest as a minor issue with assurance that the workers’ demands would be addressed.

He said: “This protest is a minor issue because all core civil servants, including local council employees, parliamentary staff, and political appointees, have received their salaries. “

“The affected workers of the 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.

“We asked for their demands, but they provided none. We are unsure of the protest’s motivation. Normally, they should have submitted a formal letter of demand to the government.”