The attention of Kogi State Government has been drawn to a piece of news in Top Stories, a little known On-line medium, and a section of the media, captioned “Restore Sanity or face Rejection: NANS to Wada.” The story is an unprovoked attack on the administration of Governor Idris Wada by the student body. One Ezekiel Nwankwo, said to be Public Relations Officer of National Association of Nigerian Students,NANS allegedly signed a Press Statement accusing the Governor of woeful performance especially in the area of education. He alleged further that the state is on ‘auto reverse’ as salaries are not paid at all and that infrastructure is in decadence. it is most unfortunate that the name of the students body is being used to blackmail and orchestrate a campaign of calumny against Kogi State Government.
The profile of Governor Idris Wada administration is far from the sorry picture painted by Nwankwo. Since coming into office in January 2012, the Governor has spared nothing in his determination to transform education and develop the state. In spite of the national economic quagmire resulting primarily from the global fall of oil prices, Governor Wada has repositioned education in the state. Among other things, the administration has embarked in massive rehabilitation of infrastructure in primary and secondary schools, built hostel facilities in both state university, Anyigba and state polytechnic, Lokoja, introduced and funded new areas of learning (education, medicine) in the university and (engineering) in the polytechnic. The state college of Education (technical), Kabba, School of Nursing, Obangede and College of Education, Anpka have all witnessed commendable infrastructure development under the administration.
In the area of staff welfare and human resource development, the administration is second to none in the country. Governor Wada is among few state Governors who are not owing workers in their service. Kogi State is on the front line of states where salaries are paid as and when due. It is therefore mischievous and completely untrue for the detractors to allege that the Governor does not pay the state workers. The challenge of percentage payment being experienced in the Local Government areas is being addressed head on by the state government.
One is surprised that a person who claims to be spokesperson for a respected association like NANS will be oblivious of these facts in his rush to disparage a hard working Governor. However, one may excuse his ignorance on the fact that as a non indigene Nwakwo may not be abreast of current happenings in the State. The public is therefore urged to disregard the vituperations of Nwankwo as ill advised.
Richard Elesho
Chief Press Secretary to Kogi State, Governor
I am happy with the way the youths in Ebira land are coming up to express their view in social media i commend for that.Please your excellency sir,try and listen to the youth and revive the education sector in kogi state.Thanks