Unlike the notion averred by the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) recently on national television, Kogi State Government is ready to pay the new ₦30,000 minimum wage, Governor Yahaya Bello has said, Insidestoryng report.
He made the clarification on Monday at a Stakeholders Meeting held at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Lokoja where he restated his commitment to the welfare of the state civil servants.
The Governor said now that the people of the state have given him the opportunity of piloting their affairs for another term, he has set objectives to achieve in order to improve the lives of the people, hence needs requisite finances to meet his set targets.
He therefore solicited support and understanding of citizens to ensure his administration blockes all tax loopholes so as to derive all the revenues needed to satisfy the yearnings of the people, adding that he couldn’t meet the goals without finances.
Governor Bello who expressed gratitude to the NLC in Kogi State for their understanding while he makes efforts to ensure the resources needed to do the needful were available, he said the leadership of the body knows exactly where the state is and the efforts of the administration to give workers their desired benefits, but that he couldn’t do that without increasing Kogi’s revenue base.
“We are faced with a lot of security challenges especially the emerging threats of kidnapping, banditry and the rest. We’re equal to the task and by the grace of God we are going to rout them out. But to be able to do that, we need a lot of funds.
“We need you to help us so we can help our people. Your maximum cooperation is required in that regard. We don’t only want the tax laws to be enforced, we want them to be complied with. It is easier if they are willingly complied with. But if you don’t comply with it, then we shall enforce it.
The Governor used the opportunity, as his first official engagement since the Yuletide break to express appreciation to the people of the state for their support during the last governorship election, noting that the roles played by the citizens were proofs of how much appreciation they have for his service to them in the last four years.