Controversies have been trailing the issue of payment of salaries and pension in the state as some workers and pensioners are claiming they are owed outstanding balance of July 2015 to January 2017.
Acording to Alhaji Abubakar Rajab, in Abuja, there is no doubt that there is a running battle between Kogi State government and workers.The crux of the matter is on non-payment of salaries and allowances, as well as the palpable stagnation staring civil servants in the face. Government initially opted to downsize its workforce, which labour stoutly resisted.
Many workers were actually sacked and a number of others were retired prematurely.
The Kogi workers situation became a running issue. At a point, the national and state leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, emptied into Kogi State, in solidarity with the workers.
Yahaya Bello who set up a committee for verification of workers, for the payment of salaries. Events have since showed that following this verification , no worker has been paid his/her full salaries and, since this verification exercise, workers have been paid only once and some retired prematurely.
Some others, including Kogi State University, Anyigba, Kogi State Polytechnic , College of Education and some other establishments have not been paid in the past eleven months. A recent visit to Igalamela/Odolu LGA along Idah Road, Kogi, showed that workers are disenchanted and frustrated, Alhaji Abubakar said.
Some of the workers who spoke to Alfa Tijani (a dogged online reporter) said they were aggrieved and likely going to stay back home during the One Year Celebrations. They complained about hunger, inability to pay house rent medical and school fees of their wards and children. They did not equally see the rationale behind going to celebrate One Year.
– Alfa Tijani writes from Asokoro, Central Area Abuja in hands with Alhaji Abubakar Rajab
Both can be reached : rajababubakar@yahoo.co.uk and hon.tijanialfa@gmail.com
