Kogi State governor, Captain Idris Wada, has denied owing workers in the state salary arrears, insisting that he is up-to-date in meeting his obligations to the state workforce.
Governor Wada, who spoke to newsmen through his personal assistant (PA) on general matters, Unekwuojo M. Sule, yesterday in Abuja, said he should not be named among governors in default of payment of their workers’ salaries as he meets his wage obligations before the end of each month.
“It is not true that the teachers in Kogi State are being owed one year or eight months salary arrears. It is a challenge to the media to verify and come out with the true position of the story.
“We do not owe anybody. There may be few challenges in-between, in which some people are being owed about a month or two months salaries largely due to their own faults. Maybe because what they filled in their forms were not in conformity with the record of the permanent secretary and their salaries are being withheld. They would have access to their money whenever they sort out the challenge. Kogi State government is not owing any salary arrears.
“While it is true that some states are currently unable to meet their financial obligations, Kogi remains a shining example. For the records, Kogi State government is not owing workers salary arrears as the government has fully discharged its obligations,” he said.
He challenged the media or anybody with contrary information to come out with the facts, adding that Kogi State workforce is the envy of workers in the country due to the sincerity of Governor Idris Wada’s administration in meeting his obligation to the workers.
“As a matter of state policy since Wada assumed office, every civil servant in the state has received alert as at when due, earlier than 30th of every month”.
“Today, Kogi State workforce is the one that everybody is talking about and I can put it on record that Kogi State is the only state among the few states in Nigeria today that are implementing minimum wage rule.”
“Since the inception of the regime of Captain Idris Wada administration no person in the state workforce earned lower than the stipulated minimum wage limit. While it is true that states have come under heavy pressure on account of steep fall in oil price, Captain Wada still maintain workers’ pay day as sacrosanct,” he stated.
He also added that through prudent management, Governor Wada is not just paying salaries and pension on schedule as when due but he has able to keep contractors working on sites across the state.
