The Ondo state government and the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are currently at loggerheads over the two-day warning strike which commenced today, Peoples Gazette can report.

The NLC had on Friday, given notice of a warning strike to protest the current hardship and ‘excruciating mass suffering’ in the country occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.

But in Ondo, the state head of service (HoS), Kayode Ogundele, had allegedly threatened state workers to ignore the two-day warning strike called by the union.

Mr Ogundele, in a video forwarded on a platform that comprises workers in the civil services of the state, asked them to resume their duty post and ignore the strike action.

But in a swift reaction, the NLC accused Mr Ogundele of plans to cause an ‘industrial crisis’ in the state with his alleged threat to the workers.

The union, in a statement issued by its state chairman, Victor Amoko, asked the workers to stay away from work as part of the action to protest the current hardship in the country.

Mr Amoko said the reason for the industrial action was justified considering the hardship caused by the fuel subsidy removal.

“It has come to the notice of the organised labour in Ondo State that the State Head of Service, Mr Kayode Ogundele is trying to cause an industrial crisis in the state with his viral video.

“In the viral video, the HoS was said to have threatened workers to ignore the two-day warning strike called by the NLC,

“We wish to direct our members and workers in the state to remain at home as directed by the NLC. The Congress will put Mr Ogundele at appropriate position at the right time,” he said.

The NLC chairman, however, called on the acting governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Dare Aragbaiye, the special adviser on union matters to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to call the HoS to order before he truncates the existing labour harmony in the state.

“The HoS should not cause avoidable industrial unrest in Ondo State. We wish Mr Ogundele is called to order immediately,” he added.

Meanwhile, the NLC has besieged government offices and secretariat to enforce the stay away from work order.