New twist, as striking Kogi workers seek Buhari’s intervention

Following persistent face-off between the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yaya Bello and workers in the state, the workers have not only continued their supplication to God, but have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue them from their current hardship resulting from non-payment of their salaries.

Piqued by their worsening economic situations, the striking workers have also appealed to the President to send them food, drugs and other materials, so as to alleviate their sufferings.

The workers made the appeal on Wednesday in Lokoja, in a statement jointly issued by the state chapters of the NLC, TUC and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC).

According to Messrs. Olakunle Faniyi, Kolawole James and Isah Abubakar, Secretaries of NLC, TUC and JPSNC respectively, who signed the statement, they were seeking the President’s intervention so as to alleviate their sufferings and make life more meaningful for them.

The workers said that, Buhari should direct the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other humanitarian agencies to supply them food and the relief materials.

The civil servants said their appeal was hinged on the fact that they were being owed between 11 and 21 months salaries; and that the situation had adversely affected them and their families, as they could no longer meet their financial and other obligations.

They alleged that, “The situation of workers in the state is worse than the condition of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in various camps.

The agony of the workers is not in any way less than the experiences of victims of natural disasters.

A situation where workers cannot afford even one meal a day and pay the school fees of their children is already a humanitarian issue.

As it stands today, over 30 per cent of the workforce is owed 21 months salaries.

The civil servants also implored the indigenes of the state at home and in Diaspora to show concern and assist them in whatever form they could afford.

Workers in the state had on Sept. 22, embarked upon an indefinite strike to press home their demand for payment of their salary arrears.However the governor’s media aide, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo said that government had yet to enter into negotiation with labour over the demand, saying that it was because the signatories to the strike notice were unknown to the state government.