A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Kogi State, Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape has called on the state government to make payment of workers’ salaries and pensioner’s emoluments a top priority.
In an exclusive chat with Kogireports, the governorship hopeful bemoaned the harsh economic conditions civil servants and pensioners in the state have been subjected to due to irregular and outright non-payment of their salaries and pensions.
He wondered why the state government has refused to pay salaries and pensions after receiving October and November monthly allocations.
Enape appealed to Kogi state government to consider the need for the civil servants to celebrate during the end of year festivities and pay school fees of the children and wards in January. He urged the Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration to attach more importance to the needs of workers than the next elections.
“Civil servants and pensioners that are Christians have been condemned to a bleak Christmas already. So many of these workers are being looked upon by their communities, relatives and friends who have schedule different events for this period of the year but they can’t meet up with expectations due to unpaid salaries. More importantly, these hard working civil servants will have to pay school fees for their children and ward in few weeks time when schools resume.
“After the pay parade, the civil servants justifiably expect their salaries to roll in without further excuse from government. What is holding the payment back now? After the pay parade, the state government has collected October and November allocations without any sign of meeting its statutory obligation to civil servants. Instead, the state government has been organising political rallies across the state.
“A responsible and responsive government will attach more importance to welfare of workers and pensions and balance it with politicking,” he said.
Enape, who served as Special Adviser to former Ondo and Oyo States Military Administrators, urged the people of the state to persevere as the current challenges will soon be over.
The governorship hopeful said he is coming into the race with the experience and mindset to save the state from total obituary and to place it on the pedestal of growth and development.
The aspirant, who had served as Council Chairman of Ankpa Local Government Area of the state and won awards as the best Council Chairman in 2000- 2003, assured the people of his commitment to the rebuilding of the state.
