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Those of us who believe in the good works Yahaya Bello is doing in Kogi State will give him distinction especially in the area of screening of some invalid persons who are on the payroll of the state government for much too long. They are like ringworms; if no measure is taken, they can chop into the flesh to remain nothing but scars rounding the skin like the Nigerian old used coins.
For this, our loyalty must first of all be to the man behind all the “good happenings” and like our “beloved brother” the Chief of Staff Edward Onoja, we must stick to Bello like a hunchback.
Anyone who really doubts that the just concluded screening exercise by Yahaya Bello has not produced any significant impact to the ongoing Labour Reform in the state has never used a China phone.
As someone who in my entire life since the introduction of GSM in Nigeria by Obasanjo, I think I am in a better position to tell anyone about the advantages and disadvantages of the phone. The phone came to Nigeria in the year 2000 or thereabout along with some other phones like Motorola, Nokia, Bird etc. The “China Phones” have many products but like the pirated books that are named after the authentic Authors and are equally designed to resemble the original covers so that you may not be able to distinguish between the fake and original copies unless you open to read them. But the truth about it all is that they are very cheap and affordable but they may not last longer like the originals. Like the pirated books, so also the China phones.
Although the phones are not advisable for use, another disadvantage is that they can infect others easily with their viruses. The disease that is common with the Bluetooth enabled ones.
It may interest you to know that research proves that the phones are commonly used in Nigeria because Nigerians are after the cheapest things. Perhaps I may be correct to say that “Nigeria is a China country in Africa.” This may be responsible for the reason why other countries are progressing but we are left behind.
Coming back the “Labour Reform” in Kogi State, by the youthful Governor, there is no doubt that as a State in the “china country” called Nigeria, there must be found some invalid or un-existing persons on the government’s payroll.
Just like a China phone, after scanning a virus must be found; flash it and you may not be able to use it for life. The wisdom here is that the Governor should not be condemned totally because as a human being, nothing about him can be perfect.
However, where it seems to me that Mr. Governor has wronged the state is the situation whereby he kept some valid persons together with the invalid persons for just “a maximum of twelve months “ as his Chief of Staff would say which can be shorten to one year without salaries. At least during a scanning of China phone, some of its features can still run. For instance, when a call comes in, it can be answered, then a message could also be read. All these features are not suspended because no matter what, we must have an innocent file free of the virus.
The past they said may be history but we always have some lessons to learn from it. In legal jurisprudence it is called “conditional precedent”, it must be followed unless you have reason to say “not again.” Such power is always the prerogative of the supreme court of the land. And so we must thank God for the Governor has “tempered judgement with mercy” by forgiving some who would have become invalid workers.
I am sorry I have not been using the word “ghost “ in place of “invalid”. My reason is because my English Dictionary said the word refers to anyone who is dead. But when such person is seen after or before his/her burial, we may refer to such person as a “spirit”. For that it would have been best to refer to some dead people whose names are still on the payroll to as “spirit workers “ while those who are alive but are not the real employees of the government to be refer to as “invalid workers.” But because Nigerians are reluctant to change, I will not force my invented concepts on them. At least we are in our independence, everyone is free at choice!
Well, Governor Yahaya Bello is a God’s gift to Kogi State and so we should not see his many wrongs as deliberate passion for wickedness for God’s gifts can be punishment and reward. The New Direction has only lost its arrow and the same God, it is expected will help us find.
That the Governor after the screening exercise was able to identify some ghost workers for prosecution is applaudable. Kudos to him.
However, what Kogites expect from him next is to prepare for the screening of the Local Government Administrators because like I said earlier, no part of Nigeria systems that has no virus. Among the Administrators we may have some invalid persons who may be as well ghosts.
This brings me to the conclusion in remembrance of some people who are burning money making posters and billboards vying for electoral posts in the Local Government Area. I could remember I once asked a friendthat; “is it possible for one to seek for a position to which there is no vacancy?” Surprisingly he answered me in the affirmative; “when the current occupant of the office is about to retire or he has a skeleton in his cupboard, one may seek for such post”.
He added: “just like the ghost workers, their positions may be replaced.”
And now I ask, “when would Yahaya Bello conduct election to the Local Government Area to replace the ghost Administrators?” Tomorrow may be too very very late!
– Abdullahi Suleiman Otiwe
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