A group called, Kwara Must Change, has claimed that many
civil servants in the state have become depressed and are committing suicide over
months of unpaid salaries. According to the group, state government should be
blamed for the death of Mr. Biodun Bashir, a staff of Universal Basic Education
(UBE) in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, who committed suicide on 28
October.
The deceased was said to have hanged himself after enduring
severe financial pressures arising from being owed salaries for many months on
the trot.
Kwara Must Change disclosed that Mr. Bashir AKA Legal, like
other civil servants in the state, was enduring severe hardship arising from
the failure of the state government to pay workers' salaries for many months.
The state government, however, continues to claim that it is
not owing. This is said to be a cause of widespread depression among civil
servants in the state, as it suggests that the government does not intend to
pay what they
owe workers.
owe workers.
"It is important to add that while the death of Mr.
Bashir as a result of the wicked act of Kwara State Government has filtered to
the public, there are many cases unheard in. We are left to wonder how many
workers have died of hunger, ill health and other causes without public
attention," said the group.
It described Mr. Bashir's death as a new low for the state
government, which pays its most senior workers (level 15) less than N90, 000.
"Kwara Must Change sympathizes with all workers in
Kwara State and prays that God comes to their rescue. We also remind them that
the situation in Kwara is as a result of our bad leadership choices. We
urge all workers to persevere and not lose hope. We can make a better choice in
the next election for our own good," the group said.
It also called on the state government to take
responsibility for all its workers, including those at the local government
level.
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