THE relatively youthful governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello, is a former civil servant and businessman. Age 45, he has been governing Kogi State since January 2016 and so, his scorecard should be his major campaign instrument in his quest for the presidency in 2023.
The economy of Kogi was said to be in a bad shape when Bello was sworn in in January, 2016. His predecessor reportedly left at least three months’ arrears of public sector salary. Upon his inauguration, however, Bello declared his determination to priotise the welfare of workers. Within weeks, he inaugurated a public service steering committee comprising people drawn from labour, higher institutions, civil service and private sector to screen the pay roll of the state and weed out ghost workers. A process that was supposed to last a few months dragged on until January 16, 2017, when a report was submitted. A total of 43,522 workers were cleared, while 32,753 others were not cleared as authentic workers. Also, 8,879 names were declared as ghost workers on the payroll of government.
READ ALSO: Makinde approves recruitment of 500 health workers
For the 11 months the exercise lasted, government withheld all salaries. Kogi State Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, an umbrella body of workers in the state, condemned the screening committee report, describing the outcome as “premeditated attempt to retrench workers”. In a resolution passed at plenary, Kogi State House of Assembly also condemned the outcome, saying alleging that subjected many workers to untold suffering, and in some cases death. An Abuja-based journalist, Mary Ibrahim, who is a native of Kogi, who spoke on the issue, alleged that the action left many citizens poorer.” According to her, “Kogi state is mainly civil service-based and those in service are not sure of their income. So, it makes planning difficult,” Mary also said the state had its share of ravaging insecurity in the country as farmers are unable to access their farms and those who managed to go to their farms, poverty is forcing them to sell their produce at give way prices. She gave kudos, commended the administration for battling ceaselessly to curb insecurity as the situation is much better than when Bello took over the reins of governance. “The major challenge we have is in the area of welfare of the citizens. Government must find a way to lift more people out of poverty, eliminate hunger and empower citizens,” she declared.
