Kogi state governor Yahaya Bello: Poly workers protest
Workers of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja on Tuesday took to the streets in protest against the non-payment of salaries.
The workers, who took over all routes leading to the institution, held placards some of which indicated that more than 20 per cent of them had not been paid salaries for eight months “ even after all manners of screeening exercises”.
Mr Simeon Ogbadu, Secretary of their workers’ union, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria , on the action, regretted that members had been subjected to “stressful screenings and rigorous checks without any benefit”.
He stated that lecturers were hungry with some of them dying over the lack of basic needs in their homes.
“Many of the lecturers have lost their wives and children and have suddenly become obbjects of ridicule in the society,” he stated.
The union’s scribe stated that the workers would embark on an indefinite strike if the state government refused to pay the salaries.
Ogbadu, however, urged the workers to remain calm and await further directives from the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).
“We are ready to return to the classes, but government must meet its obligations; I am very optimistic that the issues will be resolved soon, but unless they are resolved, it will be difficult to work with an empty stomach,” he stated.