Kogi Workers Reject Half Salaries

Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

Workers in Kogi State wednesday rejected half salary that the state government promised to pay due to lack of funds.
The governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who met the leadership of the state Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by the Chairman, Onu Edoka, on Tuesday, disclosed to the union that the state does not have money to pay salary, stressing that the July allocation from the Federation Account was N1.7 billion while the wage bill of the state is N2.9 billion.

According to the governor, the state can only afford half salary of 60 per cent to workers in the state.
However, the leadership of the union after series of meetings with members yesterday at the labour office in Lokoja, rejected the 60 per cent.
According to the union leader, Onu Edoka, workers in the state have suffered total hardship since the coming of the present administration.

According him, over 70 per cent of cleared workers are yet to get salary in the 17 to 20 months.
He mentioned that despite the huge money collected by the state government in the last 20 months, it is pity that workers are being paid by Bello.

Edoka called on the governor to explained to the people of the state how he spent the total sum of N38 billion which comprises bailout funds, the first tranche of Paris Club refund which was N12 billion and N6 billion as the second tranche.

The chairman therefore called on workers in the state to remain calm as the union would tackle the situation.