By Alfaki Nasidi.
Alhaji Okutepa Danladi Usman, Kogi State gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has promised to create job opportunities for youths if voted into power in November 16, 2019.
Okutepa made this pledge while speaking with journalists on Saturday in Lokoja.
He said that the rate of youth unemployment in the state is alarming.
According to him, the present administration has failed in the areas of employment, health care service delivery, women empowerment, payment of salaries, pension and education sectors among others.
He promised to do his best to ensure the development of the state by providing infrastructures such as drinkable water in all the nooks and crannies of the state.
The gubernatorial aspirant also promised to make welfare of civil servants as one of his top priority.
“We will ensure that salaries of civil servants, local government staff,pensioners are paid as at when due.
“I will create employment by reviving the moribund industries in the state in order for the youth to be engaged, in order to reduce the rate of unemployment and insecurity in the state,” he promised.
Okutepa promised that Omi- Dam will be fully utilised for irrigation and other economic activities, especially on agricultural produce.
According to him, he will also boost the Internally Generated Revenue of the state apart from other sources of income to reduce over dependence on the federation allocation.
He added that women would be given equal opportunities with men to enable them contribute to the development of the state.
Okutepa further called for the unity of the party to ensure that the APC retains power by presenting a credible and acceptable candidate ahead of November governorship poll.
“We will make sure we form a government by the people and for the people to transform Kogi State to greater heights,” he said.
