Unarguably, the basic needs of man are shelter, clothing and food. All other ones are function of abundance. Thus it is in the light of this need assessment that I am attempting to say (although just an iceberg) of what kogites are currently passing through. Having highlighted the basic needs of man, it is pertinent to state also that money is very essential to acquire or make readily available this needs.
In pursuance of self reliance and sustainability, many people go to school, some learn hand works, others practice trade and some engage in merchantry but at the end of it all, everybody revolve around each other for existence. However, the bulk of it of it all lies on those who go to school as they are charged with white collar jobs which serve the administrative rotation of wealth and utilities via patronising the artisans, traders etc for daily life.
This is to say – if everything works right for the civil servants, businesses and commerce boom well and vice versa. Alas, how can there be boom in a state where civil servants are not paid for almost a year? How can their be boom when people feed from hand to mouth? How will there be boom when commercial patronages are based on credit? How can this boom when living beings are declared ghosts in day light?
This developments causes bleeding that has no healing in my heart. I have tried very hard but cannot assume how things will ever work right when civil servants physically existing are declared ghosts in their States. My heart is bleeding whenever I recall family men been subjected to begging all in the name of unjustified verification. My heart bleeds when it imagines the amount of hiss that circulate in the corner of rooms out of frustration and unending hardship.
Staff verification is never a bad idea anywhere in a healthy society but deliberate downsizing of workforce in the guise of screening is a crime against God and humanity. As essential as shelter and clothing, man can bear its unavailability but not food. A hungry man is an angry man, Kogi is becoming a haven of hunger at the expense of opportunity which it’s slogan depicts in seal of the state. Business activities have folded up, health challenges are now abysmal and mourning is becoming a norm than unforseen event.
I plead in the name of God that all those within the structure of the state should “Tell Governor Yahaya Bello That Enough Is Enough, Kogites Are Suffering” in abject poverty and hardship as a result of the unending screening which has turned to be a downsizing. No matter how good the motive of this exercise, the period past has not been able to justify it well enough. As a constituted authority, the governor must realise that protecting the interest of a large number of the citizens is superior to any good intension and a large number of the state are suffering from the avoidable consequences of the staff screening and verification exercise.
Finally, I must state here that democracy is ideally “government of the people, by the people and for the people” and the people have said no to unending staff screening and verification. No lesser than two different committees have carried out this exercise and on every ending, the casualties are unprecedented. So, what then is the essence when the people can no longer bear further hardship?
By Comrade A. M. Nasir
naadejohs@gmail.com
07068416768
