Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) has called on civil servants in Kogi state to reject the planned salary cuts by the state government.
In a statement issued by the Executive Director, Comrade Idris Miliki Abdul in Lokoja on Monday, CHRCR stated that civil servants create the wealth politicians cruise around with and should not be made scapegoats under the current economic reality.
He challenged workers to demand for prompt payment of outstanding leave bonuses and promotion allowances which have not been paid for several years in Kogi State.
Miliki called on Kogi state government to spare civil servants and direct his ‘economic cutlass’ on state lawmakers and political appointees.
“It is undeniable fact that the current legislators in Kogi State was inaugurated in the first week of June, 2019 and the numbers of sitting is far less than the number of days they have remained at home. It is also noted that all the bills passed since their inauguration were executive bills without any of them sponsoring private members bills.
“More worrisome of it all is the allegation that one of the Honourable members, in recent times, turn himself to a boxer on the street by beating up a government driver, rather than make laws for the good people of Kogi State. Yet the same alleged person could not represent Kogi State at National Sport Festival, or represent Nigeria at the Olympic games and win medal for the glory of Kogi State and our country.
“On the various appointees in the state, many of them have no meaningful contribution to the economic development of the state, but rather collecting unjustifiable salaries. No wonder, one of the appointee of the government was recently alleged to have assaulted a beauty queen in Kogi state, in which we are yet to see a committee setup to investigate and their finding made public to the citizens of the state.
“It is known fact that, since the current governor emerge in the State, no local government elections has been conducted. After the dissolution of the unelected local government administrators, instead of conduction council polls the governor went ahead again and re-appoint some of them as SSA on security to the governor on various local government councils. The first of its kind in Nigeria. These SSA on Security have no basic training and background in security matters.
“We call for the tremendous slash in their salaries and allowances as Kogi state workers cannot be made scapegoats as they create the wealth the politicians cruise around with,” he said.
Miliki described the proposed cut in workers’ salaries as unjustifiable and totally uncalled for.
“In the last four years of Governor Yahaya Bello administration, workers in Kogi state has been at the receiving end, the worst hit were the local government workers and teachers that were paid various percentages as salaries up till this moment. Balance of such percentages have not been paid to these workers.
“It is worrisome and unbelievable that less than three months after the second coming of Alhaji Yahaya Bello administration, another salary cuts has re-surface again which include all categories of workers, such as medical and health workers who are currently at the frontlines in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic, while some state governments have increased allowances of medical and health workers across board. Can Kogi State afford the exodus of medical and health workers as witnessed during the first tenure of Alhaji Yahaya Bello administration Due to irreconcilable differences?”
