By Boluwaji Obahopo

LOKOJA—Barely 24 hours after the organised labour in Kogi State called off  its six weeks old strike, a battleline has again been drawn between labour and Governor Yahaya Bello, over  the governor’s decision to screen workers before payment of last year October salary.

The governor had  on Wednesday  met with Permanent Secretaries and heads of government agencies and parastatals, where he directed them to screen the workers before payment of one out of the four months’ salary arrears.

The governor asked the workers to present; first appointment/employment letter, confirmation of appointment /employment letter, all promotion letters, statement of salaries account or payslips for the last 24 months, copy of staff identity card, credentials such as State of Origin Certificate, Birth Certificate and Academic Credentials, among  others for the screening.

The Governor said the move was to help in weeding out ghost workers from the state, lamenting that the wage bill had been over-bloated by 300 percent, as ghost workers were partly responsible for the astronomical rise in wages in the state.

But organised labour described the state government decision as backstabbing after calling off  a six week strike on ‘compassionate’ ground for the new governor.

Speaking to newsmen after an emergency State Executive Council meeting, State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Onuh Edoka, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government to rescind its decision on the screening exercise or the workers would embark on another indefinite strike. Edoka said, “The situation is disheartening to the leadership of trade union in Kogi State.”