Kogi State chapter of Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance (APDA) has called on Governor Yahaya Bello to pay all outstanding salaries and pensions without further delay.
Kogi APDA Chairman, Alhaji Abdulmumini Ibrahim made the call in Lokoja on Sunday while reacting to the death of a civil servant in state, Mr. Edward Soje, who was owed 11 months salary as at the time he committed suicide in Lokoja few days ago.
Abdulmumini stated that non-payment of workers’ salaries is immoral. He noted that the Quran and Bible kicks against denying labourers their due wages.
“My sincere condolences to the family of Edward Soje. May God Almighty grant the family the fortitude to bear this huge loss.
“My party, the APDA, symphatise with the entire Kogi state civil servants who share similar frustrations. The current scenario in Kogi state is an anomaly that is alien to us as a people. Civil servants in Kogi state have never been this humiliated, dehumanized and denied.
“It is irresponsible for the state government to deny workers and pensioners their entitlements. Governor Bello’s persistent claims that he is not owing salaries is the height of wickedness. It is a shame that the same government that told newsmen in Abuja recently that it is not owing more than two months salaries is now coming up with a ridiculous press release that it owed late Edward Soje 8 months salary.
“At some point, people began to doubt labour leaders in the state over their claims of non-payment of salaries to the tune of 22 months because of the brazen falsehood dished out by the state government. However, the Edward Soje’s unfortunate episode has vindicated the labour leaders,” he said.
Adbulmumini called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to come to the aid of Kogi state workers without further delay.
He called on the people of the state to remain calm and law abiding.
