We have never had it so bad and so rough," is one of the statements Oyo State workers use to express their dismay over the inability of the state government to pay their salaries.

CEOAfrica was at the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan and revealed to it was the sadness on the faces of most of them seen loafing around with so much apathy.

A number of those interviewed preferred to speak under condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to the press. They expressed their plight and the pain that they have been subjected to as a result of the government’s inability to keep its credibility.

"The situation is really frustrating. The government has been defaulting since March and it does not look as if the situation would change soon," a worker said.

Another civil servant lamented that government seems not to appreciate what they are going through. "My poor son has been ill for the past two weeks. I stopped by at the hospital before coming to work this morning and when I was given the bill, I felt so disillusioned," he said.

"My brother, we are hungry. I have not been able to visit my poor mother ever since we were thrown into this sorry state. They tell us that the state is broke whereas their own salaries have never been paid in arrears. We have been made to bear the consequences of their own mismanagement," another anonymous individual said.

‘"t’s been four months ago since we collected our salaries. There are indications from those at the Ministry of Finance that we would be paid our salaries for the month of March this week. I sincerely hope it is true because if not, our case would automatically be as bad as those in the State of Osun."

When asked what they thought about the efforts being made by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) towards their plight, a man who simply identified himself as Dele told our correspondent that all the NLC has been doing is yet to reflect as far as they are concerned.

He went further saying that the inability of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to come to terms has made the efforts of the former futile.

"As far as we are concerned, the NLC has been doing nothing because they hardly carry the TUC along in their decisions."

Our reporter was at the office of Mrs Olabode, chairman of TUC, but didn’t meet her on seat. Efforts to reach her on phone were futile as at the time of filing this report.