'Stand with us in sacrifice', Governor tells Kogi workers

The governor stated this in his Independence Day speech to the state on Sunday, October 1, 2017.

Bello who blamed paucity of funds for delay in payment of salaries and gratuities urged workers not to be misled by mischief makers adding that his government was doing everything possible to address the problem.

“Prompt payment of salaries is still a vexed issue, but we will do our best to keep our workers happy given the competing demands on the income of the state per time,” Bello said.

“However, it is inevitable that from time to time we must ask workers to stand with us in sacrifice. We hope they will oblige in the overall interest of the state.

"In similar vein, prompt payment of Gratuities and Pensions is only possible within the ambits of a Contributory Pension Scheme. Like the automation of the workforce, a Contributory Pension Scheme for the Kogi State workforce is inevitable reform. We commend workers who come around to work to the overall interest of the state. We cannot allow ourselves to become deterred from implementing much-needed reforms.

“We also urge all workers not to be misled as Government is doing everything possible to address the various challenges confronting the workforce. We are a responsible Government and we shall live up to our responsibilities,” he added.

The governor further called for the inclusion of more young people in government.

“In order to force a paradigm and generational shift in politics, I realize that I must keep justice, equity and merit as the moral compass for Government.

“The only way politics in Nigeria can change to accommodate more young people in high positions of leadership is for youths already in leadership to demonstrate competence and capacity to lead. I shall not speak for others but I repeat a solemn guarantee to succeed well as Governor of Kogi State.”

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Nationally, the governor noted that President Muhammdu Buhari-led government has put in place measures to ensure that Nigeria optimizes her potentials.

“The British may have had their own ulterior motives when they amalgamated the old Northern and Southern Protectorates into one Nigeria in 1914, but I believe they also provided us an opportunity which hitherto did not exist, i.e. the opportunity to be much greater than we would have become as individual tribes or territories.

“In my opinion, and I think most Nigerians will agree with me, that even though we have not harnessed our gains after amalgamationthe present Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR is making efforts to optimize our potentials as a Nation.

“This is evident in a more secured Nigeria after years of terrorism threat, we are consciously diversifying our economy to Agriculture and Mining, the very vulnerable are now being focused on using various current programmes and policies – e.g Condition Cash Transfer at National level, N-power and Market Money, Home Grown School Feeding Programme etc. as a State, the GYB Food Security Project, Youth and Artisan Empowerment Project and the upcoming GYB water for life Grassroot Project and finally, GYB Model Primary and Unity School to foster cohesion amongst the upcoming young ones and quality education,” he said.