Osun State civil servants have blocked the entrance to the state secretariat complex after declaring an indefinite industrial action, saying they will no longer accept half salary from the state government.

The leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state had directed members not to resume from their Christmas break until the government accedes to their demands, but Festus Olowogboyega, the Osun State Head of Service, gave a counter-directive ordering workers from grade levels 1 to 7 to resume work.

The directive prompted Jacob Adekomi, Osun State NLC Chairman, to mobilise members of the union to the state secretariat in order to enforce the strike action.

Among other things, the workers are demanding the confirmation of appointments and promotion for some of their colleagues since 2012, as well as the stoppage of modulated salary for workers and pensioners since July 2015.

Osun State is among the worst-indebted states in terms of unpaid salaries, alongside Bayelsa, which is surprising, given it is an oil-producing state.