The Kogi State government says the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Onuh Edoka, is a “ghost worker”, and has fired him.
Mr. Edoka was one of about 9000 people sacked following a screening exercise to weed out illegal workers from the 21 local government areas of the state.
Mr. Edoka, who serves as head of both the Medical Health Workers Union and the NLC in the state, said he was employed in 1989, and currently serves as a Disease and Surveillance Officer in the state.
He said he was baffled by the result of the screening exercise headed by Paul Okuntimo, a retired general, who gained notoriety for his role in the incarceration of the late activist, Saro Wiwa.
“The General’s committee claims that I submitted the wrong bank statements. But they only asked for my statement of accounts for the past two years which I submitted,” Mr. Edoka said in a telephone interview on Wednesday.
Speaking on behalf of the state chapter of the NLC, Mr Edoka said the workers union would take to the streets to challenge the government’s actions.
“The government just got a bailout based on the current staff strength. Suddenly they want to retrench workers to divert the funds even though some of these workers have not been paid for over 23 months,” he said.
“The NLC is saying that these people are not ghost workers. They are living beings and we are ready to bring them out on the streets of Lokoja so that the world can see that they are not ghosts but real workers of Kogi state,” Mr Eboka said.
The government said the screening process was transparent and designed to identify persons who gained employment or obtained promotions fraudulently.
Gbenga Olorunpomi, a media aide to Gov. Yayaha Bello of Kogi State, said some of the workers who failed the screening exercise did not furnish the committee with the required information.
“For example, many of them refused to supply their BVNs [Bank Verification Numbers]. This automatically brings up the question of why they don’t have BVNs if they don’t have anything to hide,” he said, adding that the current list is merely a preliminary list and that the said workers would be given the opportunity to rectify any deficiency.
“The governor has assured the people that no legitimate worker in Kogi state will be sacked. But there are some people who got into the system fraudulently. For those people, we have no apologies,” Mr. Olorunpomi said.
A new list, which will clarify the reasons for the screening failure, is expected to be released within the week. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Sebi you were jubilating on the day of inauguration not knowing you have entered one chance oo. Sorry o kogi workers
ReplyDeleteWhat are you saying?
DeleteIt is better you keep quiet because it is obvious from your comment that you don't know anything about the state. This is a state where you have ghost schools,hospitals, I mean ghost institutions. The number of those institutions per Local government will even amaze you. The screening exercise was necessary and done with good faith. Any real and genuine staff sacked will be reinstated through proper channel. This governor is a governor of destiny, whomever disturb him will be in our radar physically and spiritually.
DeleteI don't know why some folk see good in evil? Carrying out screening to authenticate records of eligible worker is now a bad thing to do. Let all the criminal fished out and face the wrath of the law
DeleteI don't know why some folk see good in evil? Carrying out screening to authenticate records of eligible worker is now a bad thing to do. Let all the criminal fished out and face the wrath of the law
DeleteThe committee is political. Have they verified his letter of appointment? How can they say he is a ghost worker when they know him. Can a ghost be president of NLC which is a very important and sensitive position in the labour union? Did they give him the opportunity to substantiate his appointment before the sack? Oh! Nigeria my country.
ReplyDeleteDear good people of Nigeria.The issue with those people that the state claim to be sacked is that they don't furnish the committee member with their BVN account number. This is the Genesis of their problem.either salary or private account will be revealed.God bless Nigeria
ReplyDelete