Government at all levels are thought of to direct and manage the people’s affairs in the hope of ensuring a meaningful mode of peaceful existence and progress by maintaining law and order while protecting lives and properties, providing adequate welfare and social packages, promoting social justice and economic development among others. Nigeria’s scenario has for long time thrown citizens into a wandering atmosphere filled with expectant reasons to always hope for a better government since incumbents always fail to deliver on expected level of dividends. Government-in Government-out, situations have only worsened with the hopes for better life gradually eroding the mindset of many. Some people have even settled for the school of thought which believed ‘the end time is near’ and so, situations can only worsen while others have the believe that somehow, the current scenario may likely reverse for good, with birth of good leaders. Perhaps, these are the reasons why citizens were largely involved in the last general elections to campaign for CHANGE, although, the citizens forgot to pray for POSITIVE CHANGE.
In fairness, President Buhari’s sincerity of purpose in delivering the promised ‘CHANGE’ is not in doubt as evident in corruption fights, reposition of the country’s image, proposed huge infrastructural development across states etc. but he needs to realize that, in addition to honesty, areas of expertise and competence will help drive home the promised change. Inadvertently, the Federal Government has made couple of questionable policies, at least with the obvious undeserved hardship on the general masses. For instance, some of these policies such as floating of the currency, ban or restriction on international transactions, rice importation ban and even those on imported cars etc. were said be on the favours of the country and I personally agree but it could have been implemented in a SAFE MODE i.e. one after the other and by providing some cushioning measures to reduce the negative effects that has succeeded in subjecting Nigerians to untold hardships. Unfortunately, close aides often offer fallacious advices and highly deceptive praises, all for selfish gains at the detriment of the governance and its leaders.
The recent efforts of Federal Government in assisting states by granting bailout fund to clear the backlog of salaries they owe was widely celebrated with the belief that states can now pay salaries much to the relief of workers.
However, it has only succeeded in complicating the scenario with many states yet to justifiably clear the backlogs. Hence, dashing the hopes of the masses.
Many of the states cited ghost workers menace as a reason for states financial insolvency, so, the need to embark on thorough screening. Ghost workers menace undoubtedly hinders governments’ services delivery to the citizens and no sensible citizen would support it. Unfortunately, it thrived anyway, in a show of a jungle fashioned lifestyle. More painfully, these menaces are committed by the same workers who on the long run complain of non-payment of salaries by the government.
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s introduced Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) which helped linked and monitor account numbers were deployed in detecting multiple accounts that were drawing the blood from the treasury. Over 50,000 ghost workers were removed from federal civil service, according to reports. Without any delay, results were processed and effected. This approach was later adopted by many states in sanitizing the civil service but not in the case of Kogi State.
Expectations were high and it was a jubilation galore all over when His Excellency Alh. Yahya Bello took over governance last year January. With his promises to sanitize the system, screening committee was set up and to all, it was a round peg fixed in a round hole but surprisingly, they chose a different method of screening which they said will be more comprehensive and efficient than the BVN verification of accounts. This move negates the promises of His Excellency to employ technology which we all know is more efficient. Unsurprisingly, the committee were soon greeted with allegations of indiscipline, fraud and baseless or unjustified impending mass sack of workers. Although, the government had circulated the result of the committee, they reshuffled the committee and appointed another head for another round of screening.
Along the line, Kogi workers were forced to open account with either Access or Zenith Banks, drawing mass reactions especially because Zenith and Access banks have only about four (4) and six (6) branches respectively, across Kogi State with twenty-one (21) Local Governments areas, thereby subjecting workers to undue pressure and danger of having to travel across the state just to open accounts. In hope for better results, the workers went through the stress. Throughout these periods, many LG workers have not received salaries till date. Some others have received in varying percentages and for varying number of months. A few others have however continuously received full salaries except for two or three months. Hunger is now a trending song across Kogi State even for the few workers whose scenarios are better. Again, this percent salaries paid to the so-called ‘cleared workers’ negate the promises of His Excellency. Consequently, the ill-memories of the past governments were soon resurfaced in a clear show of incompetence and Jungle governance. In all these, no significant efforts by workers’ union body is reported.
While series of lies greeted the screening exercise, the atmosphere was re-ignited when His Excellency, Alh. Yahya Bello, promised to pay all ‘cleared’ workers before December 20th, 2016. Anticipation were high, prayers were offered and some magic payments were made to the so-called ‘cleared workers’. 20% of workers were paid three months’ full salaries, another 20% were paid about 50% of their salaries for only three months and the remaining workers declared as ghost workers. Who then are the cleared or non-cleared workers? Because it is not well defined who the cleared workers are. To compound the situation, varying results have been widely circulated on the evils perpetrated through high level of ghost workers (over 18,000 was last reported), certificate forgeries, age falsifications etc. Now, the question is why are the results not released and appropriate penalties melt down on the said workers? Why are hardship been inflicted without any show of mercy and remembrance of God? Why do the people have to hopelessly wait endlessly for their entitlements? More so, to my greatest dismay, some others are reportedly involved in lobbying through the ‘back door’ just to get on the ‘cleared list’. To further portray incompetence resulting from the whole process, after His Excellency affirmed that the government has paid about 99% of workers (via a Radio interview following the December 20th promised when the magic payments were made), he later admitted some lapses and promised more cleared list would be released. Now, workers who have not been paid for about 8 months are protesting and the government is raising alarm of sponsorship. How do we comprehend this?
During the last Christmas, some government appointees were said to be sharing money and rice to the same people they impoverished. This is in addition to the earlier reports of the first lady, Mrs. Rashida Bello, who also reportedly engaged in a poverty alleviation scheme. Is it not better to pay salaries and have less people on the street to empower? Is it not better to pay salaries than share money and rice? In fact, how many days did they think the money and the rice would last? Many of us are now forced to ask, “Why were we celebrating”? The past administrators, except for Late Prince Abubakar Audu, generally performed woefully in governance, salaries and engaged in what almost became “monthly screening” since workers were always screened before a meagre percentage they paid were given to them. The balance of all these percentage salaries are not owned according to the government.
The people were unjustly impoverished, insecurity was on the rise and worse still, the government and its appointees never exhibit any cut in expenses to reflect the true status of the meltdown the state was reported to be in, rather, the workers who earn a meagre monthly salary were made to suffer. This scenario inherited from the past administrations is continued in the present, where political appointees live a flamboyant lifestyle since their salaries and allowances do not suffer similar fate as the workers’. Widespread of hunger, inability of parents or guardian to pay school fees for their wards, kidnapping, increasing insecurity despite government’s expenditure in the procurement of security vehicles (also attracted outcry) are only a few of the sufferings. The kidnapping, which is fast becoming a daily or at least weekly event in Kogi Central as well as the incessant killings in the same area which has been going on in recent years, are more worrisome. The government and security operatives seem highly overwhelmed and so, doing too little to curb the menace. The state Assembly’s voice is not yet heard by a way of passing a bill aimed at curbing kidnapping. It’s all jungle jungle practice and response by the administration.
Even more worrisome are the facts that the so-called aides whom I will refer to as sycophants now engage themselves in seeking awards from everywhere rather than deliver on the mandate given to them. These set of people have no set goal or objectives for delivering on the mandate given to them, they now live flamboyant lifestyles, are inexperienced, arrogant, more interested in awards (of course from uncredited sources), never listen to good advices rather they take such people who attempt to advise them as enemies and worse still, deceive His Excellency with the chant of ‘Digital Governor’ or ‘New Direction’ etc. Respect to some other (well known) appointees who have so far stood out in their duties, they deserve all the accolades. However, those who love His Excellency must begin to tell him the truth for the sake of Allah (SWT).
In a state where the government cares less for its people, Political appointees are sycophants, beneficiaries from governments drag sincere advisers to social media fracas, severe hunger occasioned by Federal Government ill-fated policies and worsened by to non or partial payment of salaries, increased kidnapping or killings without any proactive measures being taken etc., there can be no better description as that both the people and the government now live a jungle life style.
P.S.
This write up is not to spite anyone or group or even the governor but to serve as a wake-up call for the entire people of Kogi State and its leadership. For those of us from Kogi Central, it is time we let ‘OUR SON’ know the truth about the status of affairs in the state, in order that he may succeed well
– Engr. Abdulrahaman Okino Otuoze
