Usman Okai Austin, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Dekina/Bassa federal constituency in the 2023 general elections, has called on the Kogi State government to end the practice of paying local government workers a percentage of their salaries.
In a statement on Monday, he emphasized the need for improved financial allocations to ensure that these workers receive their full entitlements.
Okai highlighted that local government employees in Kogi State have been subjected to percentage salary payments for far too long, a situation he attributed to poor financial management and misallocation of funds by the state government.
He pointed out that during the administration of Captain Idris Wada, the state received substantial monthly allocations—between N3 billion and N3.2 billion—with a wage bill of only N2.7 billion. Despite this, the introduction of percentage salaries was met with widespread criticism.
He criticized Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration for implementing a screening process that resulted in the removal of thousands of workers from the state’s payroll, further exacerbating the plight of local government employees.
Okai noted that although N50 billion was allocated to Kogi State to address workers’ issues, much of it was misappropriated, contributing to the ongoing financial struggles of local government workers.
With Kogi State reportedly receiving monthly allocations of N7 billion to N11 billion, Okai questioned why local government employees, who represent the largest workforce in the state, continue to receive only a fraction of their salaries.
He urged Governor Usman Ododo, a former Local Government Auditor General, to recognize the improved financial situation and take action to rectify the salary issue.
Okai also criticized the lack of visible development projects in Kogi State, stating that there are no ongoing capital projects, road constructions, or hospital developments funded by the state government.
He lamented the absence of a social security system for vulnerable citizens and accused the government of diverting resources meant for the welfare of the people.
He urged Governor Ododo to prioritize the needs of the citizens and lead the state towards genuine development rather than serving as a subordinate to former Governor Yahaya Bello, who is currently facing legal challenges.
Okai concluded that Kogi State has the potential to thrive if its leaders are committed to making the right decisions for the welfare of its people.
