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Kogi Staff Verification: Nobody Has Been Sacked – CPS
By adminMay 27, 2016, 00:00 am
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The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo has distanced the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello from allegations of massive sack in Kogi State Civil Service, saying the Governor is a job creator and not a job terminator.
Addressing Kogi State Concerned Youths who paid him a courtesy call in Lokoja, Thursday, the Governor’s spokesman said the misinformation doing the round about the ongoing staff verification exercise is quite unfortunate.
He said: “I am happy you have come here to know the truth. You are a great example of informed youth who do not just hit the streets over unfounded rumour. I thank you for your great show of maturity and composure.
“Again, I want to reiterate the fact that this screening exercise is about the workforce, the unemployed, the rural dwellers and everybody in the state. Governor Yahaya Bello has no problem with anyone who can prove he is under the employ of the Kogi State Government. He has no problem with any worker with a valid letter of appointment, promotion letter, statement of account revealing salaries, valid credentials and other necessary documents”.
Fanwo said the outcry over the preliminary reports of the exercise was “hasty, uninformed, misplaced and uncalled for”, urging the civil servants to remain patient as “the Governor will ensure every legitimate job is protected”.
“It is true that there was some level of apprehension over the preliminary reports of the screening committee. The objective of the exercise was to remove ghost names from the payrolls of the State Government, make it credible and free funds for development. Governor Yahaya Bello is committed to the welfare of workers but it will amount to injustice to continue to line the pockets of people working in companies outside the state with the resources that would give education, healthcare, water and good roads to the people of the state.
“As I speak with you, no worker has been sacked in Kogi State. We have read all manner of stories planted by people who are jealous of the sterling heroics the screening exercise is about to record. The exercise was thorough, credible and will effectively exorcise the spirits of the ghosts from the payrolls of the Kogi State Government.
“The reports of the committee will include remarks on every civil servant who went through the screening. We cannot be talking of sacking non-existent names. We cannot be talking of sacking people who are working outside the state for other organizations and still drawing salaries from our Local Government Councils. You can only sack someone who is working for you and Kogi State is not interested in sack. No legitimate worker will be sacked,” he said.
Fanwo told the youth organization that Governor Bello is on the verge of setting up Appeals Committee to look into complaints which might emanate from the exercise, saying justice will be done and will be seen to have been done. He urged the organization to teem up with other youth groups in the state to support the noble programs of the Governor, assuring them of the commitment of the Governor to give them a future of opportunities.
Responding, the leader of the group, Comrade Adesayo Olufemi thanks the Chief Press Secretary for granting them audience and dousing their fears over the screening exercise, assuring the government of the readiness of the group to sensitize the people about the good intentions of the Yahaya Bello administration.
“We don’t need further proof that this government respects the youth and the people of the state. Before now, our own Government House doesn’t welcome us. But today, we are here. We feel this government is with us. We feel the government is listening to the people. “We came here because we have heard so many stories about the reports of the screening exercise. Now, we know what is happening. Promoters of ghost workers are the reasons why our generation is scarce in the civil service. They contribute to why water is not available. They contribute to why we could not fix our roads. Kindly help us tell Governor Bello that we are his Ambassadors and that we will unite with all well meaning Kogites to declare war on the ghost workers who are the real enemies of the state”.
Credit: Vanguard
