By Oyibo Salihu
Lokoja
Kogi state chapter of Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) has appealed to the Organised Labour in the state to return to negotiating table with the state government in the interest of the people of the state. State chairman of the party, Hon. Abdulmumuni Ibrahim, who made the appeal in Lokoja yesterday while interacting with newsmen, described the ongoing industrial action in Kogi state as unfortunate and called for immediate dialogue to resolve the dispute. “Th e strike embarked upon by Kogi state civil servants is justifi able. Th ey are fi ghting for their right. Kogi government has no business owing salaries after the long screening exercise that culminated in downsizing of workforce. With the screening exercise and the funds the government has received so far, salaries and pensions should be paid promptly. “Go to states like Plateau and Kaduna, workers’ salaries are paid before 28th of the month and the governments also executing impressive infrastructural projects, but in Kogi we cannot pay salaries and we have no tangible infrastructural development to point to. Lokoja is one of the smallest state capitals in Nigeria yet the government cannot develop the town. “Our party, the APDA, sympathize with Kogi workers and the entire people of the state over this unfortunate situation. Everybody is aff ected by this scourge. Th e economy recession aff ects all of us, regardless of our tribe or political affi liation. “All hands must be on deck to salvage the situation and we must start by appealing to labour unions to return to the negotiation table, get their demands met and resume to salvage the state’s economy”, the state chairman said.
