Administrations in Kogi state before now are guilty of not fulfilling its obligations to civil servants; serving and retired but the present situation in Kogi state is no longer acceptable.
When Kogites were told months ago that the bailout has been approved, they heaved a sigh of relief with hopeful expectations that days of sorrow, anguish and pain are over but the seeming unending character, the series of screening exercise is assuming is neither rational nor acceptable. This handshake is way beyond the elbow and has become a wrestling tango.
For certain categories of civil servants, it’s praise time but for others especially pensioners, its living the hell on earth.
These Senior citizens devoted their productive years to the state and it is only pertinent to ask if they deserve in any way the parlours situation foisted on them by this screening exercise that has obviously assumed a life of its own and has refused to be terminated.
If by mid-November no pensioner has been paid outstanding at any time, it then means something is seriously wrong.
People are distressed because of a screening exercise that has refused to end.
That the screening exercise is necessary is not in doubt considering its ability to rid the state payroll of ghost and diaspora. The data it provides for planning is also laudable but the disturbing situation of workers previously cleared and paid to now find their names conspicuously missing in the new updated cleared list is somehow suspicious.
As laudable as the idea behind the screening exercise is, the apparent confusion coming to the fore now then makes asking certain questions pertinent.
Do we have a deliberate attempt to sabotage this government?
Why are cleared pensioners still waiting for what is rightfully theirs?
Is there anything Kogites should know and are not being told?
Every achievement of this administration will pale into insignificance if the absurd and sordid experience civil servants; serving and retired are placed persists.
The trauma and agony the nonpayment of salaries to workers is no longer acceptable.
Thank God, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello is back refreshed to continue his work to make the state better but without paying workers and pensioners, it will just be a direction on a route of agony and pain for the people.
Like someone rightly said,
“No matter the magnitude of the rottenness in the payroll, it is unimaginable to spend close to a year to clean it. It shows the ineptitude of the handlers of the screening.”
The time to close the screening exercise and pay workers and pensioners their dues is now as anything to the contrary is unacceptable.
– Aiyenigba Olalekan
