Kogi LGA Workers Protest Over Unpaid Salaries

Kogi Local Government workers in Kogi State  blocked the Federal High Way around Koton Karfe in protest over non-payment of salaries and arrears by the state government despite the bail out by the federal government.

A corps member at the scene in Katon Karfe said that the protest has resulted in a heavy grid lock on the High way as commuters have been stuck on the road for hours.

The protest started around 8 am on Thursday  morning, and has gained momentum as more protesters come out to block the road.

Another source Idibia called via telephone to described the scene as chaotic with hundreds of protesters on the road causing over two kilometers of traffic as vehicle and commuters are trapped without movement.

Reacting to the protest, The Kogi State Commissioner for Finance, Alfa Zakari, has described as a rumor milling around the working class purporting that the government of Kogi State was in procession of the Workers Salaries Assistance Bail out Loan approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Commissioner, in a statement issued in Lokoja, sympathized with workers, especially local government workers while also commending them for their patient on the issue of salaries. It noted that workers in Kogi State have shown understanding for a long time and urged them not to lose their patient yet, especially now that solutions are around the corner.

Against the backdrop of recent protests by workers in Kogi Local Government alleging government's failure to pay their outstanding salaries despite that the administration of Capt Idris Wada was in possession of the bail out money, the Commissioner said the allegation was based on mere assumption, as Kogi and three other states were yet to access the loans.

It warned against politicizing the issue and cautioned against instantaneous protests as they could be hijacked by fifth columnists to destabilize the peaceful nature of the state.

The statement read in part, "As at Thursday, September 17, 2015, what the CBN Governor said was that 18 states have accessed the money. Four other states are being processed. And these states are Oyo, Delta, Kogi and Benue. So, as it is now, we have not been paid. 

The Commissioner for Finance and the State Deputy Governor are in Abuja permanently, more or less. They are in Abuja for the monthly NEC meeting for the Federal Allocations Committee meeting but simultaneously, they are linking up with the CBN to facilitate the release of the Workers Salaries Assistance Bailout Loan. 

The government appreciates the patient of the workers but reassures that on receipt of the money, no delay whatsoever will occur in making sure that all the out standings are paid according to the loan accessed from the CBN.

"The whole process will be transparent; notices will be published, Kogi people will see clearly what is being paid and to whom, across the entire state.

"We sympathize with the protesting workers because workers in Kogi State Local Government  Councils have been very, very understanding on the salary issues. However, on this account, they have been misinformed that the bail out fund has been released. It has not. We appeal to them to be patient. They have been patient for a long time. The solution is just around the corner now. We will still appeal to them that they should not allow themselves to be used as political tools in causing upheaval and destabilizing the peaceful nature of the state. It will be most unfortunate if fifth columnists capitalized on such protests to wreck havoc in the state.

"Once again, the protests may be as a disinformation that the state has accessed the fund. No, we are still in the process of doing so. The moment it is paid, the civil servants, indeed all the workers across the state will feel the impact immediately," the Commissioner disclosed.