Kogi Govt explains workers screening
The Kogi government dismissed speculations that imposing compulsory screening for its workers had caused any ugly incidents in the state on Friday.
The Head of Civil Service (HOS), Mrs. Hannah Odiyo, who offered the explanation in a statement issued in Lokoja on Friday, debunked reports that the exercise caused the death of a worker.
She explained that, contrary to reports, the audit, which involved only staff in the Head of Service office, was purely an internal routine exercise devoid of any ill-motivation; moreso, it did not involve the entire state civil service.
Odiyo said: “It is therefore wrong for anyone to allege that Gov. Yahaya Bello directed a staff audit of all Kogi state workers.
“To put the records straight, the ongoing exercise is purely an internal routine for biodata updates by the office of the Head of Civil Service, especially after the last screening.
“But the officer, Mr. Fadumila Olowo, who painfully died during the in-house exercise, was said to have been sick before the exercise.
“We understand that he had, in recent times, slumped elsewhere before this fateful day. The incident happened around 11 a.m., shortly after he arrived at the venue.
“As worried as we are, we sincerely commiserate with the family of the deceased and pray for the peaceful repose of his soul,” she said.
The HOS said that she has mandated her office to maintain adequate records of all staff of the state civil service in order to maintain proper planning and implementation.
“It was in view of this that the office sent out a circular with biodata forms on May 26, 2022, to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to fill out.
“Many officers complied, while some failed to adhere to the directive. A reminder was sent on July 19 for all those who failed to fill out the biodata forms.
“Yet many did not comply, especially officers who have their salary pay points with the Office of the Head of Civil Service, but their duty stations are elsewhere.
‘’Predicated on the above, the office decided to send invitation letters to all MDAs requesting Pool Officers under the office of the head of civil service to appear physically in a bid to make budgetary provisions for their promotions and equally know their duty stations.
“This exercise commenced on December 4th and will end on December 8th, based on the timetable for MDAs to appear on their stated dates. There was adequate seating arrangement for officers in the conference hall; as such, there was no queue as reported,’’ she added.
The HOS said the directive for the exercise, as against the caption by CAPITAL POST on socio-media, was not by Gov. Yahaya Bello, adding that the effort was in a bid to identify the total number of pool staff of the Office of the Head of Civil Service whose pay points are with the office but rendering their services elsewhere in other MDAs.
She said that for officers outside the office of the Head of Civil Service, their salaries were stepped down pending when they showed up to update their data, noting that this was the only way to make defaulters comply.
Odiyo, however, said that the action was in their favour; otherwise, their names would be missing from the authentic nominal roll as bona fide staff of the Kogi government.
