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 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.” ( NAN) Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Being owed even several years salary can not in any way justify some one taking his or her life. Now that he has taken his life, has the salary been paid?
ReplyDeleteI pray that you will not experience what he and other people without salaries and pensions in Kogi are experiencing. His case is just one out of many people that are so depressed that death has become a desired option. I'm from Okene, the home town of the governor but I tell you the truth: death rate has never been this high in Kogi before. People dyinpg on sick beds simply because they don't
Deletehave money for hospital bills. Kogi is a civil service state coupled with peasant farmers. When workers salaries are not paid the hardship is undescribable. I caution them during 2015 elections but they preferred to vote for Sai Baba Buhari and later anything (not anyone) that APC presented. David
Emeka you are mad
DeleteIs quite unfortunate , my mum and dad are been owed 18 months salaries and their names are on the clear list. It is well with Kogi state.
ReplyDeleteHow can workers be owed 18 months salary and you say that you have a government or reasonable people living in that state or country? It's too sad. I am just trying to comprehend how or why this could happen. Let me share this story with you, I remember I got hired for a State Government job through an agency arrangement. The plan was that I should help them set up a laboratory, make it functional and generate money. I fulfilled the scope, however my general manager who hired me began to fail to pay my monthly salary. His excuse was that there was no money. I became enraged and went to his office one day and asked him, if he knows that I have a family. I asked him also if he wanted me to start stealing or he would prefer me to kill somebody, you won't believe what happened few days after. He released my salary while he still refused to pay others. Then I told my colleagues to go to him but they were reluctant. Could you believe this? And he owed them several months of salary. In fact, I left the country and was told that he never paid them the arrears. Therefore, sometimes people dictate how they wold be treated. But all the leaders are getting their salaries. The foolish governors get their salaries and the so called security votes.
ReplyDeleteThose who trecked for Buhari are now committing suicide for him. Sai Baba
ReplyDelete