Kogi Civil servants bemoan their fate as Governor Bello fails to pay salaries despite federal allocation

Governor Yahaya Bello

There is intense anger among the workers of the Kogi State civil service over failure of the state government to pay salaries despite the release of N813 billion federal allocation to the 36 states last week.

The morale of workers in Lokoja on Monday, became dampened after close of the day’s work without salaries.

Some workers who spoke with some reporters expressed regret for the development, saying, the government cared less for workers.

A staff of Kogi State Ministry of Health, who spoke under anonymity, explained that so many of the state workers would not travel due to non-payment of salaries.

He accused the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello of being a wicked person, “who is happy when people are suffering.

“The state governor knows that the yuletide is here and he cannot plan ahead despite the release of over N813 billion to the 36 States of the federation last week.

“The governor is always on the wrong side of history. Tell me, how does this salary issue concern President Muhammadu Buhari on whether he is good or bad.

“It’s unfortunate Bello does not even consider paying salaries regularly to entice people now that the elections are here.”

Speaking with a staff of the office of the Accountant-General of Kogi State, a middle aged man, who identified himself as Enejo, ruled out the possibility of salary payment during Christmas.

He said even the Accountant-General’s staff had not been paid.

He, however, added that the office was working on salaries already.

Another staff of the Auditor General of Kogi said no single ministry staff in Kogi State had been paid salaries.

“The non-payment of salaries is a situation we should all be used to as Kogi workers. There is nothing to be anxious about.

“Our neighbouring Enugu State workers were paid not only their December salaries, but the 13th month”, he said.

The Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) on Wednesday last week at a meeting in Abuja chaired by the Minister of Finance shared the sum of N813 billion to the 36 States of the federation.