The immediate past Chairman of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Kogi State branch, Comrade Aaron Akeji Yusuf has called on the state government to commence immediate palliatives to cushion the effects of subsidy removal which has skyrocketed the prices of goods beyond the reach of an average Civil Servants.
He made the call on the occasion of the Fifth Quadrennial State Delegates Conference of ASCSN which took place in Lokoja, Kogi State where Comrade Sule Ahmed Tijani was elected as the new Chairman of the association and other new members.
His words, “All of us are victims of the present hike in the price of PMS brought about by the resent withdrawal of subsidy payment. The situation has brought average Civil Servants to their knees therefore, the urgent need for palliative as its being done by some state of the Federation to cushion the effect of subsidy removal which has skyrocketed the prices of goods beyond the reach of average Civil Servants
“The Excos led by my humble self that is winding off today has achieved a lot, especially the circumstance we find ourselves make bold to say that the Union through me led the agitation for the implementation of payment of N30, 000 minimum wage in the state.
“Though, we may say the difference is insignificant considering the prices of goods and services in the market, we should remember that, half a loaf of bread is better than nothing. It is on this basis I plead with state government to fulfill the promise of fully Implementing the balance of percentage as captured on the agreement signed by Unions and Government.
He therefore, pleaded with the state government to ameliorate there sufferings saying that they are presently finding it difficult to breath.
According to him, Kogi State Civil Service is dying, stressing that Kogi State Civil Service need new hands to sustain the bureaucracy of State.
“Virtually all Civil Servants that were inherited by the state from Kwara and Benue at the inception of the State in 1991 have all retired. Therefore, their is the urgent need for the State Government to embark on mass recruitment of qualified applicants into Civil Service. This singular act will benefit whichever governments in power as Civil Servants own the duty to execute campaign promises of politicians
“Civil Servants need motivation, and this is presently lacking among Civil Servants in the State. However, we thank the State Government for the recent cash baking of our promotions. However, like oliver twist, we still remind the State Government to kindly look in direction of our annual increments and leave bonuses that have been outstanding for over ten years. The implementation of these will spur us as Civil Servants to do more for our State as no government grow beyond its bureaucracy.