TheNewsGuru

Tag: kogi

  • Bello sent thugs, stopped me from donating 1260 bags of rice to civil servants – Melaye

    Senator Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West) has accused Governor Yahaya Bello of sending thugs to stop him from sharing the bags of rice and other relief materials donated to civil servants in the state.

    The bags of rice, numbering 1260, were donated by some senators to aid civil servants in Kogi state who have reportedly not being paid for 22 months.

    In a series of tweets on Friday, Melaye said: ”GYB has mobilized his thugs backed by his paid policemen to barricade the entry to Lokoja from Abuja with the intention of attacking Sen Dino Melaye and the rice meant for the suffering kogi civil servants.

    ”10 million was then released to thugs to stop the rice from coming into lokoja and to also disparage SDM.

    ”Hahahaha Double wahala for dead body and the owner of dead body. Olodo governor.”

  • Trending video: ‘Save us, my people are dying in Kogi,’ Melaye begs senate

    After pleading on his knees, while presenting the plight of his constituents to his colleagues at the senate yesterday, Sen. Dino Melaye was able to secure bags of rice and other essential items to the workers in order to cushion the biting effects of non-payment of their salaries by the Kogi State government.

    Watch video

    Watch video

  • Unionism: Bello bans activities of NLC, SSANU, NASU, ASUP, others in Kogi institutions

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Wednesday announced the ban on the activities of Joint Action Committee (JAC) of trade unions and all forms of trade unionism in state-owned tertiary institutions.

    Bello, who made the announcement in a broadcast in Lokoja on Wednesday accused trade unionism in tertiary institutions of impeding government holistic reforms.

    He said he had respect for the rights of all citizens to responsibly associate and pursue their welfare within the ambits of the law and norms of a democratic society.

    The governor said his administration had made tremendous progress in resolving all issues relating to adequacy and frequency of remuneration for all categories of Civil Servants in the State.

    He reiterated his respect for the rights of labour unions in relations to the responsibilities of the owners and proprietors of tertiary academic institutions.

    Bello, however, regretted that the state-owned tertiary institutions’ trade unionism had let itself to impeding government’s efforts to carry out “holistic reforms in the civil service through its unjustified industrial actions.

    “The branch of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has proceeded on yet another strike for alleged non-payment of salaries and emoluments irrespective of clear evidence of government’s good faith and efforts contradicting JAC’s position,” he said.

    The governor said there was evidence of massive embezzlement at Kogi State Polytechnic’s earnings in excess of N157m committed under JAC’s nose.

    Bello assured that his government remained committed to meeting its obligations to all genuine employees of the state as promptly as available resources would permit.

    “Government will work to ensure uninterrupted academic calendar, henceforth, in all basic education, secondary and tertiary academic institutions in Kogi State.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, and except where specified otherwise, references herein to the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Trade Unions of Tertiary Institutions owned by Kogi State are referred to:

    “The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP). The Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU). The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and The Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN).

    “Others are the National Associations of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and any other Union operating in any tertiary Institutions owned by the Kogi State Government,” he said.

     

    NAN

     

     

  • Concerned senators donate 1,300 bags of rice to unpaid Kogi workers

    Concerned senators donate 1,300 bags of rice to unpaid Kogi workers

    Members of the Senate have donated 1,280 bags of rice as of Wednesday to Kogi State Government workers owed salaries.

    This was made know by lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye, at a press briefing on Wednesday, where said he was spearheading donation of relief materials to Kogi workers over unpaid salaries.

    Melaye said, “Today, I drew the attention of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the plight of civil servants in my native Kogi State following the recent disturbing reports of deaths by suicide and inability to pay medical bills by some workers.

    “I’m happy to report to you that my colleagues in the Senate have immediately responded by donating bags of rice and other essential items to the workers in order to cushion the biting effects of non-payment of their salaries by the Kogi State government.

    “The donation, which amounted to 1,280 bags of rice as of today, and others that will follow later, will be handed over to the Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress for onward distribution to the most vulnerable workers who need immediate assistance.”

  • Gunmen kill 2 policemen, kidnap expatriate in Kogi

    Gunmen have killed two policemen and abducted an expatriate construction engineer along the Obajana-Oshokoshoko road in Kogi State.

    The incident occurred at about 7pm on Monday.

    It was learnt that the gunmen had emerged suddenly from the bush while the expatriate engineer identified as Jose Machada, who is a Portuguese was inspecting an ongoing road construction project being handled by AG Dangote Company Ltd.

    The gunmen were said to have engaged the policemen on guard duty at the construction site in a gun battle, killing one of them identified as Sgt Gini John on the spot while the second policeman, Inspector Ezekiel Negedu who was also shot died later at the hospital.

    It was further learnt that the rampaging gunmen abducted the expatriate engineer and fled into the bush.

    Confirming the incident, Spokesman of the Kogi Police Command, Mr William Aya said unknown gunmen numbering about 15 engaged its men on guard duty at a construction site along the Obajana-Oshokoshoko road in a gun duel and that two of them died in the process while the expatriate was kidnapped in the process

    He said the Commissioner of Police immediately directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of operations to mobilise operatives from the Special Anti-Robbery Squads (SARS), the Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) and conventional policemen to comb the bushes for the possible rescue of the abducted expatriate.

    Aya said the Police Commissioner has personally visited the scene of the incident and had met with the management of the Dangote Company where he assured them of the efforts being made by the police to rescue the abducted expatriate.

  • Suicide: We’ll resist Bello’s attempt to massacre Kogi workers

    …as labour leader mobilises against alleged oppression of workers in the state

    The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, on Tuesday said it will resist attempts by the Kogi State Government to starve its workforce of their entitlements.

    It, therefore, urged Nigerians to rally round workers especially those in Kogi State by donating relief materials to them.

    The President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said this while answering questions from newsmen on the Kogi worker who committed suicide on Friday, said this was necessary in order to avert another act of suicide.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Mr Edward Soje committed suicide on Sunday after going 11 months without his monthly salaries.

    “With the suicide mission embarked upon by the state worker, it shows that Kogi state workers are already internally displaced.

    “This unfortunate suicide mission by the Kogi worker is an issue that should worry all Nigerians, as non-payment of salaries is becoming a reality among workers in the state,’’ Wabba said.

    He disclosed that the NLC would soon have an audience with the Governor of Kogi in view of the fact that the plight of workers in the state was becoming worrisome.

    The NLC president, however, pointed out that non-payment of salaries had assumed a dangerous dimension in the country by leading to workers committing suicide, and should be tackled headlong.

    He said the labour union would also take its case to the National Assembly.

    “We will be demanding that the legislative body should urge governors of affected states to pay salaries when due.’’

    Wabba, however, said it was unfortunate that the Kogi governor had two weeks ago during a courtesy call on President Muhammadu Buhari claimed that he was only owing two months’ salaries.

    He added that it was more embarrassing that the same governor had, through the state’s Head of Service, later owned up that his government owed Soje only eight months’ salary.

    “This is an issue the NLC will not take lightly. We are resolute and we will mobilise our people to protest the non-payment of salaries in Kogi.

    “We have learnt however that the governor is in the habit of using thugs to harass people, but we shall be there, because we know he is not ready for dialogue,” the NLC president said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the late Soje, who was a Director in the Kogi State Civil Service, had committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree in Lokoja, the state capital.

    He was a Grade Level 16 officer in the State Teaching Service Commission at the time he took his own life.

  • Suicide: We stopped Soje’s salary because he falsified his age – Kogi Govt

    The Kogi State Government on Sunday, admitted that it owed the late Mr Edward Soje eight months of unpaid salary before he committed suicide on Oct.16.

    The state Head of Service, Mrs Deborah Ogunmola, admitted this in a statement in Lokoja.

    She said that Soje received his monthly salary up till December 2016 when it was suddenly stopped by the government.

    “His pay was stopped after proof emerged that he falsified his age records. His confession to the offence is on video to justify government stoppage of his salary, ’’Ogunmola said.

    Soje, a Director in the state Teaching Service Commission was found hanging on a tree at the back of army barracks in Lokoja.

    He was among workers being owed arrears of salaries ranging from two to 21 months by the state government.

    Ogunmola, however, explained that following engagements with the labour which spanned several months, the Kogi governor magnanimously commuted the disciplinary action due against Soje and other certain categories of offenders by granting them pardon.

    “Pardoned members staff were processed for reinstatement and payment in batches. Mr Soje was in the September 2017 batch and he was aware of this fact.

    “The Kogi State Teaching Service Commission, where he worked has forwarded a template for payment to government and Mr Soje was aware that he was listed to receive six months back pay.

    According to her, this leaves only 2 months (August and September) outstanding.

    Ogunmola, who also hailed from Ogori, the same town with the deceased, said government was saddened in no small measure by the alleged action of Soje.

    She described Soje as a level 16 officer and a director in the Kogi State Civil Service.

    She, however, deplored media reports attributing Soje’s alleged decision to commit suicide to non-payment of salary.

    “Edward Soje was not just my staff, he was also married to my sister-in-law. His death is shocking, both as one related to him in some way and one responsible for him in an official capacity.

    “I met with him earlier last week and we discussed his situation, including the progress made in resolving his employment issues.

    “There was no hint of this horrible decision in his demeanour.He did he appear to me as one who was depressed, let alone contemplating suicide. I am, therefore, understandably shocked by all of this.

    “Government condoles with his family, especially his wife and three children. While we will not intrude into their grief over their sad loss, we will stand with them.”

     

  • Don’t consider suicide as option, NLC begs unpaid Kogi workers

    The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Sunday appealed to workers in Kogi State not to see suicide as a way out of the current hardship imposed on them as a result of non-payment of their salaries.

    The state Chairman of the NLC, Mr Onu Edoka, who made the appeal in Lokoja warned the workers against taking extreme actions because the tough time would soon be over.

    Edoka, who was reacting to the suicide of a director in the state, Edward Soje on Oct. 16 as a result of financial hardship, insisted that taking one’s life should not be an option.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deceased’s wife has yet to be informed of the tragic death of her husband.

    A source close to the family said a team of pastors and relations who visited her at an Abuja hospital to break the news were advised by the management against it due to her state of health.

    Edoka, however, told NAN that many workers and pensioners had died due to non-payment of their salary and pensions by the state government.

    According to him, many workers in the state have had their ailments aggravated as a result of lack of salary.

    He said high blood pressure and diabetes had become common among them.

    Edoka said the organised labour had started compiling statistics of workers and pensioners that have died in the last one year.

  • Kogi govt denies late director, Soje committed suicide over unpaid salaries

    Kogi govt denies late director, Soje committed suicide over unpaid salaries

    The Kogi State Government says Mr. Edward Soje, the late director who recently committed suicide after his wife gave birth to triplets, was last paid salary in December 2016.

    The government, however, dispelled rumours that Soje took his life because he was being owed salaries.

    The Kogi State Head of Service, Deborah Ogunmola, in a statement on Sunday urged the media to be responsible in its reportage as there was no evidence that he committed suicide because he was being owed salaries.

    Ogunmola, who claimed to be related to Soje’s wife, said his salaries were delayed because of age falsification.

    She said despite being indicted, the state government was merciful enough not to dismiss him even after he had confessed on video.

    The head of service further stated that it was unlikely that Soje killed himself over unpaid salary because he had been listed among those who would receive six months arrears.

    The statement read in part, “The Kogi State Government is saddened in no small measure by the alleged suicide of Mr. Edward Soje, a level 16 officer and director in the Kogi State Civil Service. He was attached to the Teaching Service Commission.

    “I am appalled by the media reports on Edward Soje’s death and the certainty by the media that he committed suicide and that he did it due to non-payment of his salaries by his employer, the Kogi State Government.

    “For the records, these are the facts surrounding Mr. Soje’s employment with the Kogi State Government: He continued to receive his salaries till December, 2016 even while the Staff Screening and Verification Exercise was ongoing.

    “His pay was stopped after proof emerged that he falsified his age records. His confession to the offence is on video.

    “Following engagements with Labour which spanned several months, the Kogi State Governor magnanimously commuted the disciplinary action due against certain categories of offenders by grant of pardon. Mr. Soje fell into one of the categories.

    “Pardoned staff were processed for reinstatement and payment in batches. Mr. Soje was in the September 2017 batch and he was aware of this fact.

    “The Kogi State Teaching Service Commission where he works has forwarded a template for payment to Government and Mr. Soje was aware that he was listed to receive six months back pay, leaving only two months (August and September) outstanding.

    “Edward Soje was not just my staff; he was also married to my sister-in-law. His death is shocking, both as one related to him in some way, and one responsible for him in an official capacity.”

    The head of service said she met with the deceased a few days before his demise and the attempts being made to resolve his salary issue.

    She said there was no hint of this horrible decision in his demeanour neither did he appear as one who was depressed, let alone contemplating suicide.

    While condoling with the family, Ogunmola urged the media to always verify facts before going to press.

  • Unpaid salaries: Director, Kogi State Civil Service commits suicide in Kogi

    Director in the Kogi State Civil Service, Mr Edward Soje has allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree in Lokoja, the state capital.

    The dangling body of Soje was reportedfound on a tree behind the mammy market at the Maigumeri barracks, the Nigeria Army Command Record.

    The 54-year-old civil servant decided to take his life barely 10 days after his wife of 17 years gave birth to a set of male triplets in a private hospital in Abuja. The couple had been childless before then.

    Soje, a Grade Level 16 Officer in the Kogi State Teaching Service Commission, was being owed 11 months’ salary arrears as at the time he took his life.

    He hailed from Ogori town in Ogori -Magongo Local Government area of the state.

    He had before killing himself travelled to Abuja and left a suicide note for the wife who also works in one of the federal ministries.

    “Psalm 121:3 God will not suffer your foot to be moved: He that keepeth you will not slumber. Amen. You and the three boys, the God Almighty will keep you and prosper you, amen. I love you,” according to the suicide note.

    Confirming the incident, the state police command Public Relations Officer, ASP William Aya said that the dangling body of Soje was found on a tree behind the barracks at about 5:55 p.m on Oct. 16.

    Aya said that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Area D Division received information about the incident from the military intelligence office in the barracks.

    “Police moved to the scene, removed the corpse to the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja. Investigation is still ongoing,” Aya said.

    The police spokesman said that nothing was found on the man to help trace his address and family.

    However, a search party organised by his relations and friends, found his corpse at the morgue of the hospital on Friday, Oct. 20.

    Family sources said that Soje had before the incident been going through a lot of financial pressure due to non-payment of his salary for 11 months by the Kogi State Government.

    He was among thousands of civil servants being owed between two and 21 months’ salary arrears by the state government.

    As a way out, he was said to have sold his only car and a three-bedroom bungalow he was building at Otokiti area of Lokoja.

    The building which was at lintel level was sold by Soje at a giveaway price of N1.5 million in April to meet urgent family needs, it was gathered.

    According to the sources, Soje’s financial woes became compounded when the wife gave birth to a set of triplets through Caesarian operation in a private hospital in Abuja on Oct. 7.

    The deceased remained in the hospital to look after wife and children until Oct. 13, a day before the naming ceremony when he decided to come back to Lokoja.

    On getting to Lokoja, Soje went straight to his bank to collect the remaining N30,000 in his salary account with one of the commercial banks and thereafter informed the bank in writing about his decision to close the account.

    He immediately left Lokoja for the hospital in Abuja where he rejoined his wife and handed over the N30,000 cash to her.

    On Oct. 14, Soje and wife were joined by two pastors and few relatives to perform a brief naming ceremony for the triplets in the hospital.

    He later left the hospital on the pretext that he wanted to pick few things from the wife’s apartment in Abuja with a promise to come back quickly.

    But Soje did not return for hours and did not pick any of the many calls made to his telephone line, a development which forced the wife to send somebody to the house to go and ascertain what was happening to him.

    The person, on getting to the apartment knocked the door severally but no response and decided to call his telephone number.

    On hearing the telephone ringing out from the apartment, the person was said to have knocked severally again but no response, this made him to seek the assistance of neighbours to force the door open.

    When the door was opened, the people were shocked when they saw Soje’s telephone handset placed on a suicide note on the centre table in the sitting room while he was nowhere to be found.

    When the wife was informed, she quickly contacted some people to begin a search for him in Abuja while relations and friends in Lokoja were also informed of the development.

    Efforts made to locate him did not yield fruit until relations decided to visit hospitals in Lokoja, the decision paid off eventually on Friday, October 20 when the corpse of Soje was found in the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.

    A member of the family said that the management of the hospital explained to them that Soje’s corpse was brought in by the police, who found it dangling on a tree.

    A member of the family, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the late Soje as a “very quiet and lovable human being. “

    He said that some members of the family have been sent to Abuja to break the news to the wife and refused to answer further questions.

     

    NAN