From EMMANUEL ADEYEMI, Lokoja
No fewer than 100 workers of Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State on Monday protested over unpaid salaries. According to an eyewitness, the workers stormed the council headquarters in Abejukolo at about 8. 00am, singing war songs. It was gathered that the protesters, who barricaded the main entrance to the council secretariat and strategic locations in the town with bonfires, were demanding the removal of the council Chairman, Aminu Atabo.
The workers with various placards were owed six months salaries and other allowances. It was alleged that, since Atabo assumed office, the workers had been suffering untold hardship. They also alleged of the high-handedness of the chairman, victimisation and harassment of perceived political opponents. It was gathered that the protest, which started on a peaceful note, became uncontrollable when the police who were drafted to curtail the protest arrested six of the leaders and whisked them away to the force headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.
Those arrested were Godwin Noah, Paul Wada, Mohammed Bamidele, Jacob Audu, Alilu Shehu and Mohammed Ademu. As the news of the arrest filtered into town, it was learnt that the youths under the aegis of Omala Youth Network barricaded all the major roads leading to the town demanding the release of their colleagues. The council chairman was also said to have drafted in soldiers, who shot indiscriminately leaving many people injured.
Speaking on phone with Daily Sun, a youth leader who identified himself as Ojodale Umoru, alleged that the council boss had turned the police into an army of occupation arresting supporters of his political opponents on trump up charges It took the efforts of Aliyu Akuh, House member representing the area and Ali Ajuh commissioner for commerce and industry to secure the release of those arrested while the injured were hospitalized in a private clinic in the town. Reacting, the council chairman said the protest was politically motivated, saying those who participated in the protest were not council workers.
“The protesters were idle illiterates and bunch of miscreants hired by my political enemies, and the protest had nothing to do with unpaid salaries. “I inherited N58 million as monthly wage bill, and I receive an average of N32 million monthly, so where do they expect me to get the balance to pay the salaries?” he asked. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, DSP Romanus Nwaneiri, confirmed the arrest, warning the people not take laws into their hands.
He just appointed 75 Senior assistants to the state government, what a waist of resources
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wada please, awake from your slunmber and rise to your responsibilities. You have show us no direction of where your administration is heading to, no agender so far. You only sympatize with situation but you never find solutions to problems in sure situation; all you know again is setting up comittees dat never brings out reasonabl report but rather eating milions. Pls learn from ur predecesors; may God help you to succeed. Am an applicant and a political analyst 4rm Egume Dekina L.g.a. Of kogi state. Tnx
i don’t really know what so called Atabo with his men are really doing. They are out there syphoning local govt money. while don’t u settle dis people and have rest of mind?
This is no longer funny. Abia is no exemption.
Too bad. Salary continues to be the base of living for any salaried worker. The chairman certainly knows that there was salary liability before he “won” the “election” and was accordingly sworn-in. Haven taken over, he does not require an adviser to let him know that governance is all about prudently managing the assets and liabilities of his offices. It is a manifestation of naked wickedness for a chief executive of a tier of government to only inherit assets without liability. Stakeholders in that local government area are failing in their duties if the chairman is allowed to continue in office without clearing the arrears of the staff salaries and allowances; and agreeing to pay promptly future monthly staff salaries and allowances. In short, all and sundry are strongly invited to restore the dignity of labour in that local government area (lga). Both the State and the National Branches of NULGE are immediately invited to restore normalcy in that lga. For sure, payment of monthly salaries and allowances are not and will never be democracy dividends. The struggles continue and victory is assured!!! God help Local Government Employees. Amen.
It is really something else. How does he expect them to survive in this hard times? The Governor of Kogi state should please in the name of GOD pay the local Government workers their salary.