By joshua 
KOGI’S EX-LG OFFICIALS ENDURE 17 YEARS OF UNPAID EMOLUMENT FROM 2007 AND 2009 SALARY REVIEWS, 3BN STILL OWED.
A profound and enduring injustice continues to cast a dark shadow over Kogi State, as thousands of former local government political office holders across its 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) have been denied their statutory entitlements for an agonizing 17 years.
The backlog of salary arrears and allowances, stemming directly from the 2007 and 2009 Reviews of Salaries of Political Office Holders by the Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, has crippled the lives of these individuals, with the cumulative debt now estimated to be a staggering N3 billion.
The unpaid entitlements are not merely routine arrears; they represent the crucial increments to salaries and allowances that were officially approved and endorsed by the Kogi State House of Assembly for immediate implementation across all 21 LGAs.
These monies, which should have been paid according to the official document issued by the Salaries and Wages Commission, include salary arrears, furniture allowances, wardrobe allowances, and severance allowances, all based on the percentage increment from these specific 2007 and 2009 reviews.
From Ex Chairmen of Councils to Vice Chairmen, Local Government Secretaries, Council Leaders, Councilors, Supervisors, and Special Advisers, the list of those affected spans every tier of local government leadership from 2004 to 2023. Many of these former officials, who dutifully served their communities, are now trapped in a harrowing state of despair. The prolonged denial of their legitimate dues has had a devastating impact on their health, eroded their self-esteem, and in numerous tragic cases, has led to incapacitation and even death.
The genesis of this protracted crisis can be attributed to two major factors: the insensitivity of some Local Government Chief Executives to financial prudence, which led to the initial accumulation of these debts, and a non-compliance with the implementation of the 2007 and 2009 wage upward reviews as formally approved by the Kogi State House of Assembly. The amounts owed vary significantly from one LGA to another, adding to the complexity of the issue.
The frustration among these former public servants is palpable, with some having sought legal recourse through the industrial court and secured judgments compelling payment, yet these judgments have largely remained unenforced.
A glimmer of hope appeared in 2015 when Governor Idris Wada, recognizing the severity of these outstanding debts, sought to utilize a federal bailout fund. He requested N80 billion specifically to clear arrears owed to ex-political office holders, LGA pensioners, and primary school teachers. Although 50.8bn was approved, its release was unfortunately halted as Governor Wada’s administration drew to a close.
The situation took a dramatic turn with the assumption of office by Governor Yahaya Bello in January 2016. The N50.8 billion bailout fund, which had been approved during the previous administration, was subsequently released to Governor Bello’s government. However, disturbing indications suggest that the disbursement of these funds did not adhere to the meticulously prepared template designed to address these specific, long-standing debts from the 2007 and 2009 reviews.
In 2016, the beleaguered ex-political office holders formed a collective group and approached the state government, pleading for their payments. They were instructed to open accounts with Access Bank, a directive they diligently followed, submitting all details to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
What ensued was a bewildering and utterly ineffective payment system. The adopted arrangement astonishingly directed payments for ex-political office holders in one LGA to be domiciled in an entirely different Local Government Area, creating a bureaucratic nightmare. Furthermore, the amounts purportedly approved for payment were a mere pittance compared to the actual sums owed based on the 2007 and 2009 reviews.
To compound the agony, a significant number of names were inexplicably missing from the payment lists sent to the designated LGAs, leading to widespread non-payment. Attempts to seek clarity or redress through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs proved futile, as officials consistently redirected the desperate ex-officials back to the disoriented designated LGAs.
As of this report, the staggering sum of over N3 billion, representing these specific salary arrears, furniture, wardrobe and severance allowances from the 2007 and 2009 reviews, remains outstanding.
A pervasive sense of hopelessness hangs heavy among the affected individuals, with no tangible commitment from either the state or local government areas to settle these long-overdue entitlements.
Further complicating the matter, some current Local Government Chief Executives claim ignorance of these debts, perhaps due to inadequate updates or incomplete handing-over notes from past administrations. While the state government champions local government autonomy, ironically, some Local Government Chief Executives who acknowledge the debts lament a lack of authority to effect payments, citing the very autonomy that should empower them.
Some leaders of the group, whose opinions were sought by this reporter, readily acknowledged the magnitude of the outstanding debts.
They even volunteered to represent the detailed documentation backing up their claims to the state government if called upon to do so. In separate calls, Hon. Mosugu Moses Charles, who represented Oshobane ward in Ogori-Magongo LGA between 2004-2007, and Hon. (Dr.) Odiba Jacob, who represented Akuba Ward 2 in Bassa LGA during the 2008-2011 tenure, both made heartfelt appeals to Governor Ododo Ahmed Usman.
They implored him to have pity on the plight of these officials and extend his compassion to direct the immediate payment of the outstanding debt.
The human toll of this protracted neglect is immeasurable. The continued denial of their statutory entitlements, specifically the accumulated benefits from the 2007 and 2009 salary reviews,has had a profound and devastating impact on the health, self-esteem, and overall well-being of these former public servants.
Many are grappling with severe ailments, some have tragically passed away, and others have been left permanently incapacitated, their lives irreversibly altered by this protracted financial hardship.
This report serves as an urgent and heartfelt appeal to the Local Government Chief Executives across Kogi State and the state government. The dire plight of these ex-political office holders, a direct consequence of the unimplemented 2007 and 2009 salary reviews, demands immediate and compassionate attention.
We implore the Kogi State government to prioritize this matter as a critical project.
We commend Governor Ododo Ahmed Usman for his proactive and visionary leadership since assuming office. It is our earnest hope that this report reaches his desk and that God Almighty touches his heart to look into this pressing matter, ensuring that the Local Government Ex-Political Office Holders of Kogi State can finally receive their long-overdue entitlements and reclaim their dignity.