PRESS RELEASE BY THE HEAD OF SERVICE, KOGI STATE ON THE ALLEGED DEATH BY SUICIDE OF A MEMBER OF THE KOGI STATE CIVIL SERVICE, MR. EDWARD SOJE
Gentlemen of the Press,
The Kogi State Government is saddened in no small measure by the alleged suicide of Mr. Edward Soje, a level 16 officer and director in the Kogi State Civil Service. He was attached to the Teaching Service Commission.
I am appalled by the media reports on Edward Soje’s death. The certainty by the media that he committed suicide, and that he did it due to non-payment of his salaries by his employer, the Kogi State Government. We wonder at this strange certainty. No media house has approached the Service or the Government with any query on the matter. There is also no single shred of proof provided to back up their banner headlines.

For the records, these are the facts surrounding Mr. Soje’s employment with the Kogi State Government:

He continued to receive his salaries till December, 2016 even while the Staff Screening and Verification Exercise was ongoing.

His pay was stopped after proof emerged that he falsified his age records. His confession to the offence is on video.

Following engagements with Labour which spanned several months, the Kogi State Governor magnanimously commuted the disciplinary action due against certain categories of offenders by grant of pardon. Mr. Soje fell into one of the categories.

Pardoned staff were processed for reinstatement and payment in batches. Mr.. Soje was in the September 2017 batch and he was aware of this fact.

The Kogi State Teaching Service Commission where he works has forwarded a template for payment to Government and Mr. Soje was aware that he was listed to receive 6 months back pay, leaving only 2 months (August and September) outstanding.

Edward Soje was not just my staff, he was also married to my sister-in-law.. His death is shocking, both as one related to him in some way, and one responsible for him in an official capacity.

I met with him earlier last week and we discussed his situation, including the progress made in resolving his employment issues. There was no hint of this horrible decision in his demeanour neither did he appear to me as one who was depressed, let alone contemplating suicide. I am therefore understandably shocked by all of this.

We use this opportunity to implore the fourth estate of the realm to always strive to verify information before going to the public especially when lives are involved, and to avoid causing unnecessary distress. Facts are sacred and must be so revered.

Government condoles with his family, especially his wife and three children. While we will not intrude into their grief over their sad loss, we will stand with them through this.

Thank you.

Signed:

Deaconess Deborah Ogunmola
Kogi State Head of Service

Man wickedness against man. Sombodi we die fit talk again. This no fit happen for Warri . Lala I see mynd44 for here now

Is this from a State government or from a Psychiatric asylum?

I used to think Dino and Bello were the only odd jokers in that state.
I was wrong.

SMH

Deaconess,we have accepted.
He committed suicide because Chelsea lost against Crystal Palace,are you okay now?

Dead people do not talk,he is now in Sept batch because he died in October. This people no well,remember my service years there,I am not surprised.

Kogi,ntoooooor

Rip to soje



Deaconness,if I .......

NwaAmaikpe:



Is this from a State government or from a Psychiatric asylum?

I used to think Dino and Bello were the only odd jokers in that state.
I was wrong.

SMH

Laufta wan kill me. On a serious note,when you knew this man was under finacial bondage, why don't you give him I.O.U since he was supposed to be paid in September and this is last week of October already.

USELESS GOVERNOR, USELESS PRESIDENT AND USELESS PARTY.

This people sabi lie o....Liar Mohammed has infected everybody in this government.

He was last paid 10 months ago. What manner of verification takes so long. How was he and others in the same situation expected to manage

My ma hardly feeds us twice a day all thanks to Yehyeh Bello

bello and rochas are competing on who win the best zombie governor

Suffering we people de suffer for this era no get part 2. The man for go church, he for no take im life

BUHARI - NO
SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

OBASAJO CLAIM HE IS 70yr
EVEN BELLO DONT HAVE BIRTH CERTIFICATE, YET THEY RULE THIS COUNTRY

MOST PEOPLE USING AGE DECLARATION FROM COURT ARE PARADING FALSE AGE.

BELLO SHOULD PAY WORKER THEIR SALARY OR DID HE PUBLISH TIME TABLE FOR PAYMENT OF SALARY? IF THE MAN IS SURE OF GETTIN HIS SALARY BY SEPTEMBER, HE WONT COMMIT SUICIDE

this is so inhuman, disheartening and disgusting! thunder please strike directly at the governors desk! Kill kill kill him!

Rochas should erect one statues for Bello. His stupidity is extraterrestrial. May be his brain receives signal from Pluto.

Govt Bello and his handlers definitely have the IQ of fleas ..this is the second time they are making such a gaffe as relates to salary backlogs , wr all remember early this year when the came to state they were owing 12 months and not 13 like the press carried ..SMH

Kogi State Govt just confirmed with this press release that the man committed suicide due to non-payment of salary.

Another video just released now of another civil servant whose daughter died due to inability to pay medical bills while been owed salary.

sholatech:
Kogi State Govt just confirmed with this press release that the man committed suicide due to non-payment of salary.

Another video just released now of another civil servant whose daughter died due to inability to pay medical bills while been owed salary.

May God accept their souls

I could not sleep without thinking over this story. It looks like after thought and fabricated lies. Government should do everything possible to pay all his entitlements at least for the tripletsm

I could not sleep without thinking over this story. It looks like after thought and fabricated lies. Government should do everything possible to pay all his entitlements at least for the triplets

sholatech:
Kogi State Govt just confirmed with this press release that the man committed suicide due to non-payment of salary.

Another video just released now of another civil servant whose daughter died due to inability to pay medical bills while been owed salary.

...and the stupiiid Governor spent close to #200m to defend this salary issues in a news paper publication last week.
He also went to ananbra to campaign for apc, i hope anambra people will not fall for this bondage called change(chain).

9months and 11 months what the difference there?
I wonder if the governor isn't collecting his own salary week in week out.Why are some people wicked and heartless like this?

What a sick State and Country. Why in the hell will any employer owe anyone a month salary talk less of 9 to 11 months. No wonder corruption envelopes all over Nigeria. A worthless and inhumane government.

Lalasticlala make d whole world see the defence. Governance suppose get human face, no be for like this we go de go .Na we put dem dere no be se make dem become landlord for our head.
Waffi people no de carry last

Kogi state, who bewitched you?
Useless governor, clowning senator

"Youthful" Governor at the helm of affairs

Oh Lawd! This government is so insensitive mehnnn

This Kogi state government is useless

Salaries are not being paid, people who have served the state for years got told by this administration that they are either ghost workers or they committed fraud.

My aunt's husband who should be retiring as a director next year got told last year that he is a ghost worker, he hasn't received a dime since last year as salary while he is trying to rectify the issue.

They are trying to con out of paying his retirement benefits.

My aunt who has also served the state got accused of committing fraud, even after she brought her procurement receipts, tellers, etc, the state government admitted she was innocent, oya clear her and start paying her old and current pay, na lie.

Both husband and wife are still home with two children in secondary school boarding houses.

They are not the only ones in this plight, there are thousands.

And ppl still want to believe Kogi state govt is run by sensible ppl.. I think Kogi, Benue and Imo state govts are competing on whose more hopeless

https://www.nairaland.com/4132515/e-book-scams-expose#61675928

y some one was busy wastin millions buildin d statue of zuma. when workers have not been paid