'I can't sell myself to pay salaries,' Governor tells striking workers

He said that the monthly wage bill is over N2 billion but the state received as low as N751 million in April, stressing that he cannot sell himself or his family to pay the workers.

Speaking in a broadcast, Fayose said: “Right now, I’m helpless. It is difficult to sell myself, my family or my property. I can only depend on what I get from Abuja. I want workers to understand that it is my priority to make them comfortable.

“Even before going on their strike, I got to know that many of them no longer come to office while many others were coming late to office. Why I refused to come hard on those involved was that I had no moral justification to do so since I knew we were owing them.

“I don’t have powers to go on strike, we shall be waiting till when they come back, but they must realise that strike is not the best option

“Even in Government House, we don’t have money to power generators with diesel, whereas, I cannot sell myself or members of my family to raise funds, things are that difficult,” he said.

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state embarked on an indefinite strike on Thursday, protesting the non-payment of workers' five months salaries.

The NLC Chairman, Raymond Adesanmi, said there is not going back on the strike unless government, at least, show commitment in the payment of the outstanding arrears.