The Government of Kogi State has directed the heads of Teaching Service Commission (TSC); Science, Technology, Technical and Education Board (STTEB) and the Health Management Board (HMB) to revert the increment in the grade levels of their staff to their former status and send the updated information to the appropriate quarters for salary payment.
According to the Auditor General of the State, Alhaji Yusuf Okala, about 1, 700 staff from these organizations covering 75 schools and hospitals have their salaries ready to go but a final check revealed that many of them had higher grade levels and steps inflated.
“People should understand that we secured this bailout funds with the grade levels and salary scales the workers were enjoying at the time salaries stopped coming. Implementation of promotions have not started , so we can’t effect the increased salaries with this bailout funds,” Okala said.
“We therefore call on these institutions to send the correct and updated information, as their money is set. The moment they do the correct thing, the workers will get their three months pay immediately.”
The Auditor General urged all Kogi State civil servants to go back work as salaries are being paid. He also asked Kogites to understand that only 40% of the bailout funds have so far been secured, so only 40% of the backlog can be cleared.
Okala added that 100 percent of all civil servants (state and local government) and pensioniers, who passed the screening process at first try, have been paid between three and four months of their back pay.
“The exception are only four of the MDAs, who didn’t send their information correctly or in good time,” he added.