As Muslims all over the world celebrate this year’s Eid-El-Fitri, some workers in Kogi State have expressed their disappointment to the State Government for making them mark the day without their salary.
According to reports, the workers’ hope of receiving their salary before the festive period was dashed, as there was no sign that their salary would be paid.
Speaking to DAILY POST on Monday, some workers described the development as wicked and heartless on the part of the present administration for allowing them to celebrate Sallah on empty stomach.
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“After one month of Ramadan fast, look at us now, we are celebrating Sallah without a penny in our pocket. I can’t buy a single cup of garri for my family to feed this festive season.
“We all thought the Governor will do the needful, most especially now that he is eyeing the number one sit in Nigeria. But look at Kogi workers now, nothing to write home about. We are now beggars. What a shameful time for us all to experience this hardship under the present administration,” a civil servant Abduallhi lamented.
Another civil servant, who never wanted his name to be mentioned said, “This is the worst Sallah I will be experiencing in my life. No food, nothing. The cost of foodstuff in the market is very high and if you go out there to buy some foodstuff, you will come back home with little.
“If the Governor had paid us our salary, the suffering would have reduced. I heard the Government will pay after Sallah. To me, it is medicine after death.”
A widow with seven children, who has been working with the Kogi State Civil Service also said, “Why is it that they enjoy inflicting pains on the poor masses? I am a widow with seven children. I don’t know what to do.
“My salary is in percentage. I am no longer complaining because that is where we have found ourselves. They should pay me my percentage salary. I heard our Governor bought the APC nomination form for N100m. That money will go a long way in feeding many Kogi workers during this Sallah. But look at us, we are suffering and smiling with an empty stomach”.
All efforts to get across to any of the relevant State Government officials, on phone, for comment proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.
WithinNigeria recalls that Governor Yahaya Bello, in his Workers’ Day speech on May 1st, 2022, kept mum on when April Salary will be paid to workers in Kogi State.
Rather, the Governor said, “We are doing our best to overcome the percentage salary payments which currently persist at Local Government levels and which is traceable to the challenges associated with the collision between low government inflow and a heavy wage-bill”.
