Katsina road agency staff protest unpaid salaries, planned sack

Staff of the Katsina State Agency for Road Maintenance (KASAROMA) yesterday stormed the agency’s office to protest non payment of their allowances and what they called retrenchment plans.
The staff accused the new management of withholding their salaries and asking them to remain at home till further notice.
A staff who craved anonymity said “about 76 of us were told to stay behind till they get across to us, but while we were at home, some people were selected and paid their allowances”.
He called on the agency to rethink the decision and pay everyone, adding “instead of them to regularise our appointments they are relieving us of them.  Some of us have been casual staff for about four years and have been doing the work”.
But the agency’s secretary, Barrister Mairo Musa said when they resumed, the new management found out that over 167 staff on the payroll were not fully documented and that they decided to do something about it.
She said so far, 75 have been re-screened and absorbed into the system, adding that most of those complaining are just “hanger-ons” who are paid between N25,000 to N30,000 for sitting at home and doing nothing.
She urged the concerned staff to come forward with prove of engagement so as to resume work immediately.  She maintained that the agency is not witch hunting anyone, but trying to correct an  issue.