Thugs Attack Adavi, OKehi Labour Leaders Over Rejection Of Percentage Payment

Thugs suspected to be working for OKehi local government Administrator, Abdulraheem Ohiare and Adavi local government Administrator, Joseph Salami attacked labour leaders in the Councils on Monday and Tuesday over rejection of proposed percentage salary payment.
Hon. Abdulraheem Ohiare, Hon. Joseph Salami (OKehi & Adavi Administrator) 



Sequel to the release of July allocation from the federal government directly to the 774 local government councils  across the country, staffers of the 21 council areas in Kogi are demanding full payment against the percentage payment proposed by government.

Confluence Reporters gathered that the rejection of the percentage payment caused the mayhem in some of the local governments in Kogi state as the development had led to serious fracas between the labour leaders and authorities of the local council areas.

A source who wished to be anonymous said, "the thugs suspected to be working for Adavi local government Administrator, Hon. Joseph Salami attacked Adavi local government branch of NULGE/Medical and Health Workers Union leaving many with various degree of injuries", the said.

The union’s congress that was earlier scheduled to hold  on Tuesday was aimed at discussing their non- payment of salary despite the release of allocation to the council, but was  abruptly  disrupted by the alleged orders of Adavi Local Government Administrator, Hon. Joseph Salami.

The thugs who were said to be armed with sticks and horse whips caused injuries to some union leaders  including the Adavi branch NULGE Chairman.

Reacting, the Adavi NULGE chairman, Comrade Muhammed Yakubu Isah described the attack as very embarrassing, saying  the union had passed a circular to suspend the congress in line with the local government administrator’s directive at the time of the attack.

Comrade Muhammed who said the union has reported the matter at the Adavi Divisional Police called on those in position of authority to govern  with the fear of God.

He added that the union meant no harm as they have the right to converge to discuss their welfare.

On the other hand, the staffers of Okehi Local Government were on Monday chased out of their offices by suspected political thugs.

An eye witness disclosed that, "the thugs who were armed with guns, cutlasses and sticks, shot sporadically shouting, “where are those NULGE people” and “which non-sense congress in the secretariat.”

The source added that the workers who were gathered to hold a congress for routine briefing by their leaders quickly took to their hills to save their lives while others were reported to have sustained various degrees of injuries.

While reacting to the incident, both the Okehi local government NULGE branch chairman, Comrade Yakubu Suleiman Achimogu and his Medical /Health Workers Union counterpart, Comrade Ohuei Emmanuel, expressed shock over the unwarranted attack and disruption of a peaceful congress organized to brief workers who are anxious to know of issues relating to payment of their salaries.

According the union leaders, some of their executives have gone into hiding as a result of threats by the attackers to visit their individual home.

In a joint statement earlier issued on 3rd July, 2019 by Kogi Central Branch Union Forum and signed by the  forum chairman of NULGE, NUT, NASU, MHWUN, NANNM and NUP, the forum  thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for granting local governments financial autonomy
they had earlier expressed appreciation to governor Yahaya Bello for appending his approval to the NFIU directives.

The statement while calling for strict adherence to the NFIU guidelines, stressed the need to henceforth accord workers monthly salaries and allowances top priority.

The forum however,  advocated for 100 per cent  payment of their salaries and urged the Director of Local Government (DLGs) and Treasurers not to betray the welfare of workers.

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