Ajaokuta Road,
Ganaja,
Lokoja.
16th March, 2018.
The Editor,
Kogi Report,
Kogi State
Sir,
THE GOVERNOR OF KOGI STATE MUST HEAR THIS
The senior staffs of the Local Government Education Authority (L G E A ) offices in Yagba East and Mopamuro L G A s of kogi state will forever be grateful to you if you can help them bring their DISTRESS case to the knowledge of their Governor – Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello as they believe he is possibly not aware of the unfair treatment melted to them.
It is no longer news that the Executive Governor had done a wonderful job by putting an end to the menace of ghost workers in the state/LGA service but after the series of screening exercise, the first result was released by February,2017 for LGA, LGEA primary and LGEA office staffs in all the 21 LGAs and state workers/ pensioners respectively.
By April/May 2017, LGEA primary teachers, LGAs staff throughout the 21 LGAs were paid their outstanding salaries arrears coupled with state workers and pensioners. Although, many still remain unpaid till today. As at this payment, all LGEA office staffs were not paid throughout the state.
Shortly after this payment, the junior staff ( GL 01 TO 07 ) in the LGEA offices were paid throughout the state their outstanding salary arrears. This was later followed by payments to other LGEAS senior staff ( GL 08 to 16) in the LGEA offices leaving YAGBA EAST and MOPAMURO in the western senatorial district of the state. i.e GL08 to 16 are yet to be paid their arrears ranging from 13 months to 25 months as the case may be for individuals.
Investigation revealed that, the total sum required to pay Yagba East LGEA senior staff outstanding arrears is about sixty six (N66) million naira only, while that of Mopamuro LGEA senior staff stood at about forty four (N44) million naira only. Hence, various attempts had been made to plead for the payment of the arrears due to this category of staff but had not yielded any positive result.
Delegations were sent to the Administrators of Yagba East and Mopamuro respectively on several occasions, letters had been written and reminders to the Administrators, the Commissioner of Finance, Director on information and the Director of Local Government and chieftaincy Affairs – MR OHERE. Several delegations had been sent to MR OHERE but he had been dribbling them. For instance, MR OHERE promised the delegations from YAGBA EAST that the outstanding arrears would be paid in January 2018 but promised the MOPAMURO team that the money would be paid “when funds are available”. This phrase ignites fears about any hope of the money being paid.
THE AFFECTED STAFF OF BOTH LGEAS WAITED PATIENTLY TILL AFTER THE PAYMENT OF JANUARY SALARY AS CLAIMED BY MR OHERE BUT NOBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT THE PAINS THAT THIS STAFF IS PASSING THROUGH
This is because, despite the release of the 1st and 2nd franchise of the PARIS CLUB, THE BAIL OUT, THE STATUTORY MONTHLY ALLOCATIONS from the Federal Government and the IMPROVED INERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE (IGR), if the senior staff could not be paid out of the accumulated fund, I wonder when FUNDS would be available to pay salary arrears of 13 to 25 months as the case may be, DESPITE THESE CATEGORIES OF STAFF WERE CLEARED IN THE FIRST SCREENING RESULT FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW.
THIS IS WHY WE BELIEVED THAT THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KOGI STATE ALHAJI YAHAYA BELLO IS NOT AWARE OF THIS WICKED DENIAL OF STAFF RIGHTS.
The uncertainty of HOPE about these salary arrears is making many of this senior staff sick, hypertensive and depressed as they are unable to meet the needs of their various families. Their families are suffering and striving. Many of their children could no longer go to school; especially those in the higher institution are becoming restless and a source of greater worries to the parents as they are most likely to forfeit another session or even abandoned their studies for no fault of theirs. The parents could no longer obtain credit purchase of food stuff nor loans to buy books or basics needs at home.
We sincerely appeal to the EDITOR to bring the PROBLEMS of these DEPRIVED CITIZENS to the attention of the GOVERNOR for REPRIEVE.
Yours faithfully,
Tant’olorunEsan
Lokoja.
