BORNO CIVIL SERVANTS LAMENTS OVER UNPAID SALARIES

By Ibrahim-Gwamna Mshelizza

Workers on the payroll of Borno state government may celebrate the Christmas and new year festivity without their salaries, as Governor Kashim Shettima has allegedly squandered December salaries on Mohammed Buhari`s primary election bid and negotiation with some fake elements in Abuja last week who were said to be lobbying for INEC to allow thousands of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)to vote in their camps in the state. A reliable source said.

This is even as staff of the Borno state Housing Corporation who have been without salaries for the past 10 months were lucky to receive their 8 months outstanding salaries this month.

Investigation by our Correspondent revealed that since

inception of governor Shettima, salaries and allowances of civil servants were being paid as and at when due, but all of a sudden, things begin to change for the worst as some workers of local government areas, particularly primary school teachers have remained without salaries for the past 6 months.

The Source said “that Governor Shettima and two other

Governors from All Progressive Congress (APC) name withheld single- handedly sponsored the Buhari's campaigns in the just concluded APC presidential Primary elections where he emerges as presidential candidate of the party.

Sources at the PDP Headquarters in Abuja also revealed that Borno state government agents were very active at the just concluded party primaries distributing money to PDP

delegates urging them to vote for weak and unpopular

candidates so that the ruling APC will have an easy ride in defeating the PDP in the state.

According to the source, millions of naira had exchanged hands during the exercise, even though; the delegates did not dance to their tune.

Another source from the Borno state ministry of Finance said 'we don't have money in the coffers of Borno state, as

the money received from the Federation Account has already been diverted for a different purpose.

“As I am speaking to you now, we don't have enough money in the coffers of the state government to pay December salaries our civil servants for the Christmas and New Year festivals.”

A civil servant from the Borno state ministry of water resources who does not want his name in print told our

correspondent that as at Tuesday 23rd December 2014, they are yet to receive their December salary, a situation he

find it difficult to buy clothes and food items for his

family.
He said “ since the inception of democracy in 1999, this

is the first time we are going to celebrate Christmas

without salary, even our Muslim brothers have never

celebrate Sallah without salary, I don't know whether it

is a deliberate efforts to denied us from celebrating without families.” He lamented.

Reacting, a very close associate of governor Kashim Shettima who is not authorized to speak to the press said, the none payment of December Salaries is not peculiar to Borno state alone, as many states of the federation are yet to pay their civil servants outstanding salaries.