Governors, pay workers their salaries

DESPITE the Paris Club refunds made available by the Federal Government to the 36 state governments, many workers across the country have not yet received their salaries.

In the same vein, pensioners have not received their entitlements. This suggests two things.

First, it may be that the Federal Government merely released the funds verbally. Thus, unless and until the directive to pay is cash-backed, the state governments cannot pay their workers.

If that is the case, the Federal Government needs to be called to order.

Second, it may be that the states have actually received the money, but it has been diverted, in which case it would be proper for the Federal Government to ask them serious questions.

Whatever is the true position of things, Nigerian workers need their salaries. The cost of living is very high and Christmas and New Year festivities are fast approaching.

Furthermore, Nigerian workers have bills to settle: house rent, school fees, hospital bills and so on.

Both the divine and secular laws are agreed on the point that denying workers their entitlements is a crime.

It is in this connection that governors who are toying with workers’ salaries need to be impeached by the concerned state Houses of Assembly.

Governors have not stopped living a life of luxury. Life is obviously very rosy for them.

They should stop delivering sermons on austerity to the workers while they are living like kings.

Ibrahim Audu

Kogi State.