Administrations
in Kogi state before now are guilty of not fulfilling its obligations to civil
servants; serving and retired but the present situation in Kogi state is no
longer acceptable.
When
Kogites were told months ago that the bailout has been approved, they heaved a
sigh of relief with hopeful expectations that days of sorrow, anguish and pain
are over but the seeming unending character, the series of screening exercise is
assuming is neither rational nor acceptable. This handshake is way beyond the
elbow and has become a wrestling tango.
For
certain categories of civil servants, it's praise time but for others
especially pensioners, its living the hell on earth.
These Senior
citizens devoted their productive years to the state and it is only pertinent
to ask if they deserve in any way the parlours situation foisted on them by
this screening exercise that has obviously assumed a life of its own and has
refused to be terminated.
If by
mid-november no pensioner has been paid outstanding at any time, it then means
something is seriously wrong.
People
are distressed because of a screening exercise that has refused to end.
That the
screening exercise is necessary is not in doubt considering its ability to rid
the state payroll of ghost and diaspora. The data it provides for planning is
also laudable but the disturbing situation of workers previously cleared and
paid to now find their names conspicuously missing in the new updated cleared
list is somehow suspicious.
 |
| A civil servant beign screened |
As
laudable as the idea behind the screening exercise is, the apparent confusion
coming to the fore now then makes asking certain questions pertinent.
Do we
have a deliberate attempt to sabotage this government?
Why are
cleared pensioners still waiting for what is rightfully theirs?
Is there
anything Kogites should know and are not being told?
Every
achievement of this administration will pale into insignificance if the absurd
and sordid experience civil servants; serving and retired are placed.
The
trauma and agony the nonpayment of salaries to workers is no longer acceptable.
Thank
God, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello is back refreshed to continue his work
to make the state better but without paying workers and pensioners, it will
just be a direction on a route of agony and pain for the people.
Like
someone rightly said,
“No
matter the magnitude of the rottenness in the payroll, it is unimaginable to
spend close to a year to clean it. It shows the ineptitude of the handlers of
the screening.”
The time
to close the screening exercise and pay workers and pensioners their dues is
now as anything to the contrary is unacceptable.
By Aiyenigba Olalekan
