Kogi Workers Accuse Gov Bello Of Neglect, Unfriendly Policy

By Ayodele Oni

A few hours after he declared Presidential ambition, Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello has been confronted by workers in the State over his failure to pay them N30,000 minimum wage.

The minimum wage was approved and has since been implemented by some states since 2019.

Organised labour in the State has, therefore, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Sstate Government to implement the  new minimum wage or face an indefinite strike action.

The Labour leaders   disclosed that the Governor has continued to sacrifice welfare of workers for his personal gains.

The State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) Onuh Edoka, lamented that tge the welfare of workers has nosedived since 2016 when Bello was elected Governor as he has not added any value to the life of workers.

He pointed out  that the Committee On Minimum Wage set up  February 14, 2020, by Governor Bello has refused to submit its report for the implementation of the new minimum wage and its consequential adjustment of 23 per cent.

According to him, the administration also refused to cashback promotion arrears for workers and has continued to pay percentage salaries to Local Government workers and Pensioners in the state without considering the present economic hardship.

He explained that the strike action will take effect after the expiration of the two-week ultimatum, which begins from January 25, 2022.

“The House has resolved that all workers of Kogi State should note that an ultimatum will be served on the State Government as from 25th January 2022.

“And to this end, the ultimatum served on the Government will be 14 days ultimatum. And after the 14 days’ ultimatum, all workers of the State will proceed on indefinite strike action.

“It was equally resolved that this Government has not added any value to workers since the inception of this administration on the following ground.

“This Government has not implemented promotion with cash backing for Kogi workers since its inception.

“The last promotion that was implemented in Kogi State was in 2013. To this end, Kogi workers have been on the same salary, which they have been upon since 2011.

“It was equally resolved that the value not added to Kogi workers include none payment of leave bonus, none implementation of annual increment. In the end, the livelihood of Kogi workers has always been the same, making the workers completely poor.

“It was equally resolved in this house that the percentage salary paid to Kogi workers at the local government level, inclusive teachers, pensioners’ and health workers be brought to an end with immediate effect.

“It was equally resolved in this house that in view of this, the Kogi State Government should ensure that labour is engaged in fruitful discussion or else nothing will stop the strike action as it ought to be as the ultimatum will begin on January 25 and it will expire on the date therein.

“Once you are a State Government worker or Local Government worker, you must be part of this strike. It is so annoying that since 2020, a committee put in place to return its report within four weeks, have not turn in its report exactly two years.

“The Union in this State and the entire leadership, including workers have continued to show understanding to the government of the day that is why we never allowed any dispute.

“But this understanding has been taking for granted and have shown fully that we the leaders of various unions in this state and workers don’t understand what our rights really look like.

“I say this because it is until the National Headquarter had directed us to proceed on an indefinite strike that we are now waking up from our slumber to join the strike.

“It is an understanding to show peace, and understanding for any leadership to succeed. But this has been eroded by the actions of the Kogi State Government.”