Kogi State Government Halts Salaries of 231 Civil Servants Over Non-Compliance

The Kogi State Government has ceased the salaries of 231 individuals employed in the State Civil Service.

This decision was announced by the State Head of Service, Mrs. Hannah Odiyo, during the launch of the State Identity Cards issuance for workers in Lokoja.

Mrs. Odiyo clarified that the affected civil servants had failed to adhere to the state government’s directive to update their records.

Consequently, their salaries have been suspended since November 2023 until the present time.

The exercise was initiated to ensure the accuracy and validity of the updated staff records, which is crucial for effective government planning, particularly during transitional periods.

Mrs. Odiyo explained that in May 2022, her office had distributed Bio Data Forms to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for completion by the civil servants.

Despite the efforts to update records, 231 staff members did not participate in the exercise, leading to the suspension of their salaries.

Mrs. Odiyo raised questions about the whereabouts and legitimacy of these individuals, asking, “Where are they? Who are they? Are they ghosts?”

Earlier in the event, Mrs. Shuaib Memunat Dede, the Permanent Secretary of the Research Evaluation and Policy Analysis/Certificate Verification Department (REPA), commended the Head of Civil Service for her proactive approach in ensuring the success of the project.