…Gov. Bello’s policies are mostly anti-workers – NLC.
Civil servants in Kogi State has cried out to Governor Yahaya Bello to pay their salaries as they are dying of hunger.
Kogi State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Onuh Edoka, spoke on behalf of the workers at the 40th anniversary of NLC in Lokoja on Friday.
Edoka told the governor, who was represented by Deputy Governor Simon Achuba, that his policies are mostly anti-workers.
“Your excellency, workers sitting here today said I should ask you where is our salary? As your obedient servants, we are dying. As people who have contributed there quotas in Kogi State and has left the service, as pensioners we are dying.
“To this end, we wish to compassionately appeal to you. We are aware that allocation came to Kogi State last month and by the statement of the commissioner for finance, what came as allocation to the State was put at N4.3billion and what came to Local Government was put at N3.8billion. To this end, up till this moment, no salaries has been paid in Kogi state.
“We are already aware that as at yesterday, FAAC meeting has already been held and over N638billion have been shared and I know Kogi State government will have a share in it. Let our own not drop into River Niger again.”
The State NLC chairman used the forum to speak on the alleged premature retirement of some workers, proscription of labour unions and the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by medical doctors in Kogi State.
“You will agree with me well that appointments in this government has been done upside down, junior workers are placed before their senior and the senior working under their junior.
“I will make it more clearer that this government for the first time in the history of the State introduced what they called percentage salaries to workers and pensioners.
“If civil service have been kept in this firm before the coming of this administration, the civil service would have been in disarray.
“Medical doctors in Kogi state has been on strike for over one month. Our mothers, children are dying at home. For this obvious fact, we appeal to the State Government to call our doctors on a round table and bring this mater to a conclusive end.
“Why the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have not joined any issues of strike is because we have come to the realization that strike may not be the solution to our problems any more. It is all about the person who is the chief executive and his state of mind on the development and welfare of workers.
“The proscription of unions in Kogi State is completely detrimental to the progress of democracy, unacceptable to Nigeria Labour Congress and completely illegal and we shall not stand by it any more.
“We should have it at the back of our mind that these voices that we are forcing to be silent today, time shall come when you will no longer be in government and you will require us.
“We will speak for the voiceless and the same voice will still speak again. We shall resist it with the last drop of our blood to see that we will not be tamed in any form or turn beggars In our own state” Comrade Edoka added.
Responding, the Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who was represented at the occasion by his Deputy, Elder Simon Achuba, enjoined the leadership of the union to always stand for what is good for the workers and the country.
The givernor assured Kogi workers that salaries will be paid as at when due, very soon. He urged them to continue to support the present administration of the state.
He added the difficulties experienced by Governors across the country in paying salaries on time would soon be over urging civil servants to continue to pray and work with government to achieve the feat.
