Senator Dino Melaye of Kogi West district has drawn the attention of lawmakers to what he described as the pitiable condition of Kogi State workers who have not received salaries for between 16 and 21 months.
Melaye, who wept while explaining the precarious situation of the workers to the Senate under Point of Order, told his colleagues that the non-payment of salaries is now a major cause of suicide in the state.
He urged the Senate President to draw the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to the matter for appropriate interventions.
The Senate noted Melaye’s point and promised to look into the matter, while other lawmakers took turns to console the Senator, offering him handkerchiefs to wipe his tears.
Earlier this month, a director in the state civil service had committed suicide over alleged non-payment of his 11 months salaries.
Meanwhile, the state government had in a press statement signed by the head of service, Deaconess Deborah Ogunmola said that the deceased was paid up till December 2016 and his salary was stopped for “only 8 months”.
Ogunmola said that 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,” she further said.
