Workers’ Strike Shuts Down Kogi State, Water Supply Stopped Indefinitely

                                     

It is no longer news that civil servants in Kogi state have since 23rd December last year laid down tools to protest the non-payment of their salaries since October, 2015. As it is, there seems to be no hope in sight as to when the salaries would be paid or when the lockdown would end.

The industrial action which started like a child’s play, is biting harder and taking its toll on the people in diverse ways. It is leaving in its trails a lot of devastating effects. Apart from the nagging hardship which the strike has brought on the people of the state, especially civil servants, other aspects of life in the state are equally bearing the brunt.

Beside the fact that civil servants celebrated the yuletide without the usual pomp and pageantries, with many families barely able to feed, many are now faced with the dilemma of what to do as schools resume.

Socio-economic activities in the state have stagnated. A visit to the market revealed the extent of how the strike has grounded the state, as traders complained of sharp drop in sales. Many of the traders might as well be said to have ‘joined’ the strike as many of them went to their shops sparingly.

A visit to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, conveyed a more graphic picture of the strike. With the state-owned hospital under lock and key, the hospital grappled with the influx and the available space was hardly able to contain the influx.

Patients were seen in their helpless state, struggling to get attention. Many would not contemplate private hospitals as that might be a mere adventure for them because the resources are just not there.

The visible effect of the strike on Lokoja, the state capital could also be seen in the way heaps of filth have taken over the town. In some locations, the overflowing refuse with its unwelcoming stench raises great health concerns.

The state government is also having its fair of the effect of the industrial action, as there is a clear indication that the revenue profile of the state is most likely to suffer a nose-dive with the lull in business activities and given the fact that not even the State Board of Internal Revenue is also on strike.

In a related development, the state water board has shut down indefinitely, compounding the hardships of the residents of Lokoja, the state capital.

According to one of the workers at Ganaja office, the state government was owing the Chinese company, the sum of N2bn, for the second phase of the contract agreement, which came into effect in February 2015.

The source said that the second phase of the water project involved purchasing of equipment and reticulation of water to the community.

Also workers in the employment of the Chinese company – China Geo-Engineering Company (CGC), have downed tools, protesting against the laying off of 10 staff of the water project.

According to a source at the water site, the directive to sack workers was given to the Nigerian manager, one Collins Okoro who allegedly dropped 10 indigenes of the state and replaced with people from his geographical area.

When Mr. Collins Okoro was reached on phone, he declined comment, saying that he was not permitted to speak on phone.

The state Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Olatunji Osanusi who spoke to our reporter on phone, confirmed the development, stressing that the Chinese company should consider the plight of the people and return to work.

He said that the administration of Captain Wada has been very faithful in its obligations to the water company.

He expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved with minimum delay.

Credit: The Graphic