The Secretary to Kogi Government, Dr Folashade Ayoade on Thursday said the government would set up a committee to determine the fate of 142 workers placed on compulsory leave since 2011.
Ayaode, disclosed this in Lokoja during a meeting with the representatives of the affected workers of the state transport company, Kogi Travellers.
She expressed sympathy with the plight of the workers who had lived for the past five years without salary.
The SSG promised to draw the attention of Gov. Yahaya Bello to their plight, adding that the government would also offer them relief package pending the determination of their case.
Spokesman of the affected workers, Mr Usman Ibrahim said their problem started in the second quarter of 2011 when 15 serviceable buses of the transport company were “fraudulently” sold to politicians at give away prices.
He said the staff were shocked when they were directed to proceed on compulsory leave without pay via a circular dated June 30, 2011 issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
“ Since then , our appointments have been hanging in the balance because we were neither sacked nor working and cannot get employment elsewhere,” Ibrahim said.
He said that the affected workers were left to live in hardship, adding that 12 of the workers had died.
According to him, all efforts to get the matter resolved, including two resolutions of the state assembly have not yielded result.
Ibrahim pleaded with the state government to address their plight by reabsorbing them and paying their outstanding salaries.
(NAN)
