The Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo has approved the sum of N72,500 naira as minimum wage for workers in the state with immediate effect.
Receiving and signing the report set up by the governor on the new minimum from the Chairman of the Minimum Wage Committee, Elijah Evinemi who is also Kogi State Head of Service on Monday at Government House Lokoja, Ododo noted that after deliberation from the side of the union and government, the committee was able to arrive with a position that will not affected workers and the state.
He commended the committee for a good job adding that his administration is workers friendly, pointing out that what he had done today was not a favour for the workers but rather their right because his administration must always look into the welfare of workers in the state.
Governor Ododo stressed that the new minimum wage will commenced as from this October, noting that what ever it takes his administration he will continue to serve the people of the state because they gave him the mandate to serve.
He also approved the suspension of withholding Tax from civil servants salaries for the period of one year.
“We are not doing anybody good but we are doing what we have signed to do in fulfilment of our promised. This is in line with the stakeholders but the government and labour.
Governor Ododo who said having been a labour leader and a civil servant before going into partisan politics he knew what the civil servants were passing through and that now that God has made him the governor, he would do all within the state resources to provide succour for the state work force.
In his words: ” I can not forget where I came from, I am a man from a humble background who became who I am by the grace of God and will therefore not use my position to oppress anyone but to better the lots of the people
“You people generously elected me as your governor and the resources of the state belong to you all, I am just your chief servant and I will ensure that the resources are allocated to all sectors fairly and equitably.
“All you have seen today is the painstaking efforts of the labour leaders and government who conducted staff audit screenings in the previous administration all in a bid to ensure that the right people take what belong to them as workers and not ghost workers
“My government will continue to privatised the welfare of workers and the people of the state. Rededicate yourself towards the development of our dear state
“I am not bigger than any of you here, you only made the governor to serve you.”
He urged all the labour leaders to continue to lead with sincerity to enable the state and the union to work in harmony.
Governor Ododo commended President Bola Tinubu for approving minimum wage for federal worker’s adding that they in the state will continue to follow footstep of the President.
He noted that what ever problem the country is facing today started long ago but President Bola Tinubu is on board to correct the past mistake made by previous leaders.
He assured the President that Kogi State is All Progressive Congress (APC) and by the grace of God his administration and the people of the state will continue to support the President.
The governor also advised politicians in diaspora to come home and work with his and not when election is around the corner, they now come to the state to contest believing that they have the money and resources to contest.
Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, thank the governor for setting up the minimum wage committee.
He said they committee were able to reach agreement with the state government and they were able to arrived in agreable position which he said workers in the state will definitely be happy with the new minimum wage.
“We started with dialogue immediately the committee was set up by the governor 17th September, and today we are hear to submit the report which we believe the governor will graciously look into and approved,” he said.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) Comrade Gabriel Amari commended governor Ododo for carrying workers along in the state.
He noted that the state workers will continue to support the administration of the governor both at the state level and local government level.
The NLC chairman who expressed surprise with the seamless efforts at which the implementation committee arrived at the new minimum wage said some states in the federation were yet to set an implementation committee while the one kogi state set up on September 17, in less than one month has come out with a minimum wage that gives joy to the workers.
He promised on behalf of the workers to be more committed to their duties to continue to cooperate with the governor to carry out his good plans for the state.
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