- “I am also a staunch advocate of adequate pay for the worker” – Gov. Bello
Governor Yahaya Bello has announced the resuscitation of car refurbishment loan to Kogi State civil servants.
He made this know while delivering his speech at the 2022 Workers’ Day celebration in Lokoja on Sunday.
Bello, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade, said about 120 civil servants will benefit from the first phase in the sum of N500,000.00 each.
He commended the labour unions in Nigeria for consistently defending and advancing the political, economic, and social rights of Nigerian workers, especially in Kogi State.
“Government is your partner, not your antagonist, in this laudable work and it is my desire that we continue to forge a symbiotic relationship within which our workers and indeed all Kogites and their fellow citizens can thrive without barriers.
“I wish to reiterate as strongly as I can that it is only fair to pay a worker promptly for his or her work. This is the philosophy behind me as I undertake the herculean task of ensuring that we pay our workers on or before the end of each month. This we have done, except in February of this year 2022 when we were forced to respond to abysmally poor inflows by demanding some sacrifice across the board, starting with me.
“I thank those in the workforce who graciously obliged us while for those who felt shortchanged, we can only offer our apologies.
Governor Bello assured local government workers of his administration’s determination to put an end to payment of percentage salary.
“We are doing our best to overcome the percentage salary payments which currently persist at Local Government levels and which is traceable to the challenges associated with the collision between low government inflow and a heavy wage-bill.
“Although our workforce at State and Local Government levels are heavier than they ought to be due to reckless and unplanned recruitment under previous Administrations, I am still thankful that we have always managed to pay 100% of workers’ salaries at the state level since we ended our staff screening and verification exercise in 2018. Also, pensions are being paid promptly and the inherited backlogs of gratuity are gradually being cleared.
“The years 2020, 2021 and now 2022 have been tough on people everywhere, particularly in their earnings, their standards of living and their ease of access to basic necessities. Workers, especially in the public sector, have not been exempted. In fact, some would argue that you are the worst hit given that inflation has consistently denuded the value of your salaries even before they are paid. I must therefore commend all workers in Kogi State and the Unions themselves for the maturity, sacrifice and patience with which they have responded to these global difficulties within our domestic economy.
“I am also a staunch advocate of adequate pay for the worker, hence the speed with which my Administration made Kogi State one of the first in the Federation to adopt, and to commence the process of implementation, the new national minimum wage. Any hiccups experienced are clearing up even as we speak.
“However, and in spite of the backbreaking financial burden we continue to bear, I am pleased to announce that contrary to the rumors out there, we are not considering the retrenchment of staff or rationalization of the workforce under any guise at this time,” he said.
Governor Bello said the state government will apply palliatives as any discretionary funds become available to lighten civil servants’ burdens.
