A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi state, Usman Okai Austin has called on Governor Yahaya Bello to develop the culture and habit of treating workers well in the state and local government as that is the only way of stimulating the economy.
Speaking with our reporter on Wednesday, Okai said Bello has graduated from paying zero to percentage salaries.
He insisted that there is no justification for the continued payment of percentage salaries to workers in Kogi state.
He lamented that the anti-civil servants posture of the Bello-led administration is taking a toll on the state’s economy and making life unbearable for many.
Okai said “a civil servant told me today in Lokoja that ‘I keep borrowing from friends. I have to borrow to survive until my salary is paid, then when the salary is paid I have to use the money to settle my debts. I can’t help anybody, I can’t pay my house rent, I can’t do anything. It’s very difficult for me to even come to work.’
“Another woman who also disclosed her experience said ‘I can’t even feed myself’.
“After spending the whole of his first term in office engaging in screening exercise, Bello have no justifiable excuse for not paying workers their full salaries.
“After receiving full months allocation, it is sad that Governor Yahaya Bello is paying workers 25%. Some get 50% and another category 75%, according to the information at my disposal,” he said.
Okai said workers in the state are currently bearing great financial burdens and if the situation is not well managed can lead to serious health complications as some of them relies solely on salary for survival.
“It is unfortunate that in Kogi state now, the negative trend in the public sector is replicated by private businesses, but their employees are rarely featured in the news. Their plight is considered part and parcel of working life in Kogi state.”
