From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Kogi State Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress, (NLC,) Comrade Onuh Edoka on Wednesday called on the Kogi State Government to sack the Head of Service, (HOS) in the state civil service, Mrs. Deborah Ogunmola who has exceeded the required 35 years of service.
Comrade Edoka made the call in Lokoja, during the First Annual Regular Trade Group Council Meeting of Non Academic Staff of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, SUBEB, STE, and Post Primary Schools respectively.
The chairman who appealed to Governor Yahaya Bello, to reappoint a new Head of Service to supervise the activities of Civil Servants in the State said the State Civil Servants can no longer be ruled by a retiree Head of Service.
He explained that keeping the woman in service, “when she would have retired two years ago is a disservice to the qualified and hardworking staff, which her non-retirement has pegged or killed their ambitions of reaching the pinnacle of their careers”.
Comrade Edoka pointed out that it was ironical for the Head of Service to jettison the same circular she signed, saying “no retired civil servant would be given contract appointment,” only to still be enjoying the same abnormality she sought to correct in the civil service.
“There are many permanent Secretaries and other qualified civil servants who can do the job even better. Her remaining in service after her expected years of retirement is a disservice to the civil service.” Edoka added.
The chairman said, “What we are saying is for the government to see reasons with workers and do the needful by allowing her to commence her retirement. The extension for her stay in service has expired and the Nigeria Labour Congress is not aware that the government has renewed her stay in office. We don’t want industrial unrest that will result from the anomie,” he emphasized.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Labour Congress has called on the Kogi State Government to return to the negotiation table with workers, to resolve the lingering non-implementation of the consequential adjusted minimum wage of N30,000.00.
Comrade Onuh Edoka, lamented that Kogi State still remains amongst the few States yet to implement the new minimum wage, describing it as not acceptable in view of the rising cost of living, occasioned by inflation.
