Unpaid salaries: Reps ask FG to intervene in Kogi

The house of representatives has asked the federal government to intervene in the “callous” situation of Kogi state.

Some workers in the state are reportedly owed over 10 months salaries and allowances.

Recently, Edward Soje, a director in the state public service, allegedly committed suicide because he could not meet the needs of his family.

Moving a motion on the floor of the house on Tuesday, Sunday Karimi, a lawmaker from Kogi, said if nothing is done, “frustrated civil servants” will commit suicide.

The lawmaker also said the bailout given to states is funded by the public finance of the government and the national assembly had authority to probe its disbursement and utilisation.

“A director in the Kogi state civil service commission by name Edward Soje committed suicide. He was an indigene of Ogori, Ogori/ Magongo local government of the state. The senior civil servant was said to have being owed 11 months salary,” Karimi said.

“The director was reported to have taken his life owing to the fact that he could not meet his obligations as a husband especially when his wife had just delivered triplets at an Abuja Hospital Last Week. The triplets were the first children of the couple after many years of marriage.

“The condition and situation of Mr Edward Soje is the lot of majority of the Kogi state civil servants both at the state and local government levels and the state government has refused and opposed any effort by any authority to investigate the payment or non-payment of staff salaries.”

After the motion was adopted, the lower legislative chamber also asked Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) explain the utilisation of bailout funds to state within the next one week.

It also directed its ad hoc committee on bail out to investigate the payment of the funds to the state.