TheNewsGuru

Tag: kogi

  • Kogi govt. retires 8 perm secs, dismisses 1,774 workers

    Kogi Government on Sunday confirmed the compulsory retirement of eight permanent secretaries, some directors and dismissal of 1, 774 others from the state civil service.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered in Lokoja that the affected staff were served their letters last December.

    The letters were signed by the state Head of Service, Mrs Deborah Ogunmola and the Chairman of the state Civil Service Commission, Mr Ado Shaibu.

    A copy of the retirement letter addressed to one of the affected permanent secretaries indicated that the retirement was “in the interest of the public.”

    Some of the affected permanent secretaries told NAN that they were contemplating legal action.

    However, Mrs Petra Akinti-Onyegbule, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Yahaya Bello, defended the action, saying it was part of ongoing reforms in the civil service.

    According to her, the retirement affected only permanent secretaries that have served for four years and above.

    “The retired permanent secretaries have been paid their consolidated benefits that accrued to them.

    “Also affected are civil servants who have attained the special salary grade level 17,” she said.

    The governor’s media aided added that directors that served for eight years and above would also be affected.

    She said the exact number of directors to be affected would be based on the outcome of the recent promotion interviews conducted for them.

    “ In order to get the best replacement for the retired permanent secretaries, directors who had been in office for eight years and above but are yet to attain retirement age or maximum number of years in office were given the opportunity to partake in the exams to fill the position of permanent secretaries.

    “The result of the examinations which held on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, and followed by interviews is yet to be out.

    “Until the result is out, we will not be able to put a definite figure on the number of directors that will be affected by the compulsory retirement,’’ she said.

    The chief press secretary also confirmed that 1,667 workers with fake certificates were dismissed from the state civil service.

    She said that those dismissed were uncovered during the screening carried out by the state government in 2016 and 2017.

    Akinti-Onyegbule also said 107 other workers were dismissed for engaging in fraudulent activities.

    “Kogi state government is carrying out reforms at different stages to reposition its civil service for effectiveness, efficiency and productivity.

    “The screening exercise which began in 2016 has since ended.

    “The reversal of the inverted pyramid at the civil service is another phase of the much needed reforms meant to ensure the civil service plays its role as the engine room of government efficiently and effectively,” she said.

  • ‘We borrowed N10bn to clear 4-month salaries owed workers’ says Kogi Gov

    ‘We borrowed N10bn to clear 4-month salaries owed workers’ says Kogi Gov

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Friday disclosed that his administration resorted to borrowing N10bn before it could clear four-month salary arears before the last Christmas.

    He said the loan was added to the over N1.2bn that accrued to the state from Paris Club refund as well as the state’s November and December allocation before the feat could be achieved.

    The governor spoke in an interview with newsmen at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said, “In Kogi State today, we are up to date as far as salary is concerned. In December, Mr. President magnanimously assisted us with another tranche of Paris Club refund. Our own figure was N1.2bn and some other change on top.

    “We didn’t just stop at that, we borrowed up to N10bn and we added November/December allocation to our figures and we were able to clear four months at a stretch before Christmas and some leftover were cleared before this January in Kogi State.

    “As you all know the salary was very bogus and according to the figure we had we were able to distribute it among these months. So glory to God as far as Kogi State is concerned.”

    From January however, the governor said workers in the state would be earning salaries based on the number of times they are present at work.

    “Moving forward from this January, we have decided that we are going to make use of our clock-in device for every civil servant in Kogi State-both at local and state levels.

    “So, as you come to work and clock-in, that is exactly how your salary will be generated. It is online, it is automated so nobody is going to cheat anybody.

    “That is how we are going to go in the state. So, Kogi State civil servants and pensioners are all happy with this administration. Thanks to God and Mr. President for this magnanimity,” he said.

    The governor also claimed that his administration had worked so hard on the security situation in the state to the point that no case of kidnapping or armed robbery has so far been recorded in November, December and January.

     

    “The security operatives are collaborating with us, we are spending a lot on security.

    “So collaboration between the security agencies and understanding by the people, they are giving us a lot of information and we are treating them with utmost secrecy and we are working harmoniously together.

    “The Fulanis in Kogi State are equally collaborating with us. Even the criminal elements amongst them, they are the ones even apprehending them and handing them over to the security agencies. So we are living very harmoniously with the Fulani herdsmen, farmers and the citizens.

    “Travelers are safe day and night because anywhere you go, you see security operatives and we have even vigilantes, hunters that are equally assisting us in our farms and so many other deserted areas. So Kogi is very safe,” he claimed.

    On the 2019 general elections, Bello recalled that his state has already endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for second term.

    He boasted that the state would return a number of votes that will dwarf that of the President’s home state, Katsina.

  • Kogi workers shall begin to enjoy me in 2018 – Gov Yahaya Bello

    Kogi state governor Yahaya Bello has commended the civil servants of the state for enduring financial constraints in the year 2017.

    The governor particularly lauded the workers for their sacrifices during the state government’s civil service reforms.

    “I assure you all that in 2018, you shall begin to enjoy some of the immediate benefits of the verification,” governor Bello said in a press statement to mark the New Year 2018.

    “As a father and provider, I know the pains and disappointments of not being able to meet the needs of dependants in due season.

    “An efficient civil service is the engine room of any government and I am delighted that the Kogi civil service is being repositioned for efficiency, effectiveness and productivity.”

    He also commended the people of the state for their cooperation in fighting insecurity.

    The statement read in part, “Other initiatives in the agricultural sector shall be rolled out within the first quarter of the year.

    “These initiatives shall employ young people and make them agents of wealth creation.

    “In order to deliver good governance to all, expansion of infrastructure shall continue in remote and urban areas of our state.

    “As we continue to make progress in the new direction towards sustainable development of our state and general well being of our people, I enjoin everyone to remain law abiding.

    “It is my fervent hope that the state will witness more peace, more tranquility and more socio-economic growth in the year 2018.”

  • Police parade 30 suspected inter-state robbers, kidnappers in Kogi

    The Police on Wednesday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, paraded 30 inter-state armed robbery and kidnap suspects terrorising Kogi and the neighbouring states.

    Parading the suspects, the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood (CSP), said those arrested included some who allegedly kidnapped and killed an expatriate engineer with Dangote Cement Company.

    Mr. Moshood said at the Kogi Police Command headquarters that the arrests were in response to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris’ directive to rid the nation of crime.

    “The IGP directed the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ali Said Hangs to quickly address armed robbery, kidnapping, social miscreants, cattle rustling, cultism on Auchi-Okene-Lokoja, Lokoja-Ajaokuta-Anyigba, Kabba-Oshokoshoko-Obajana highways.

    “Effort of the commissioner and his team through vigour, dedication, utmost professionalism and passion for the job, led to the arrest of the 30 suspected criminals and recovery of several weapons, he said.

    He said four of the suspects were alleged to have on Oct. 23, kidnapped an expatriate, Jose Machada, a construction engineer with Dangote Cement Company, Obajana.

    Mr. Moshood said the suspects killed the expatriate when the ransom they demanded was not forthcoming.

    “Police operatives attached to Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Kogi State Command, in synergy with the DSS promptly swung into action and arrested the four suspects,’’ he said.

    He said one of the suspects killed a senior staff of Dangote Group of Companies, Istifanus Bello, for allegedly trying to shortchange his kidnap gang.

    The company worker was said to have been killed for paying them N5 million instead of N7 million ransom for the release of another staff earlier abducted by the suspect and his gang.

    The police image maker said two other suspects were arrested on Kano road, Idah, for terrorising the residents through cultism while another was arrested in Okene for kidnapping and cattle rustling.

    He noted that during interrogation the suspects confessed to participating in the killing one Haruna Baso, a resident of Achoze, and carting away the cattle of the deceased.

    Mr. Moshood listed items recovered from them to include, 11 AK-47 rifles, two Beretta pistols, two Revolver pistols, 334 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition, a dagger, a cutlass and military camouflage uniforms.

    The force public relations officer said the suspects would soon be prosecuted and called on parents to monitor their wards.

    He also appealed to the public to assist security agents with useful information to track down criminals.

    NAN

     

  • Kogi commences payment of four-month salary arrears

    The Kogi State Government on Friday commenced the payment of workers’salary arrears from September to December by 60 per cent.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr Idris Asiru issued to newsmen in Lokoja.

    The Commissioner said that the state government regretted its inability to pay 100 per cent of the salary arrears across board for the four months.

    “In line with the new direction administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare and the sincere promise by our amiable Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to pay civil servant in the state before Christmas celebration,I wish to notify that payment has started in earnest.

    “With deep remorse, we sincerely apologise for the delay and its attendant consequences. Regrettably, we are only able to pay 60 per cent salary across board.

    “It is the sincere hope of government that through our aggressive drive to increase internally generated revenue, the fortunes of civil servants and all citizens will improve. Accept our responsive and esteemed regards always,” Asiru said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Gov. Bello had on Dec. 2, promised to settle all outstanding salaries of civil servants and the pension arrears of retirees before the end of 2017.

    Bello made the pledge on the occasion marking 110th birthday of the Odeyani-Anebira, Alhaji Audu Otonoku and his eighth year anniversary as the Otonoku at the Lokoja Township Studies.

    However, in a telephone interview NAN, the commissioner said that the government was unable to clear all salary arrears of civil servants and pensions of retirees as promised due to unforeseen circumstances.

    “The Federal Government is owing us N14 billion for projects executed and 50 per cent of the recent Paris(Club)refund has not been paid; we thought it would be paid, but the FG has not paid us as at this period.

    “We assumed things would work out well and that was why we made the promise, but unfortunately it did not,” Asiru said.

    The commissioner told NAN that the four months salaries would be paid across board by 60 per cent.

    Some workers, however, told NAN that they had only received salaries for two months (September & October. ), while others said they received only one month’s salary as at the time of filing this reports.

  • Double registration: Those calling for my resignation are desperate – Kogi Gov, Yahaya Bello

    Double registration: Those calling for my resignation are desperate – Kogi Gov, Yahaya Bello

    Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has finally broken his silence on the raging allegation of double registration leveled against him.

    Bello said he is “upbeat in the midst of allegation of double registration levelled against him”, insisting that he is prepared to prove his innocence.

    The governor who was speaking through his Director General, Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo said “We have not said anything about the allegation because we have to allow our legal team take it up and expose the incoherence and falsehood surrounding the politically orchestrated allegation.

    “The Governor will soon come out to lay the truth on the table. Impregnable facts will dwarf the current campaign of calumny against the person of Governor Yahaya Bello.

    “INEC had told the world they had no evidence of double registration. They also gave dates during which the purported double registration took place. They may have to be confronted with their own words.

    “Those calling for the Governor’s resignation over a mere allegation have further exposed their ignorance and desperation. They need to wait till 2019 to test their popularity among the people of Kogi State.

    “Why are they sounding critical publicly while sending emissaries to plead with the Governor for the remedy of their dimming political hope ahead of 2019? Their hypocrisy will soon be a public knowledge.

    “The Governor will clear his name. But he remains focused on his goal of making Kogi a better place for all”.

  • Kogi will experience steady power supply in 2018 – Official

    The Kogi Government on Saturday says it has achieved an appreciable success in rural electrification projects toward an improved electricity supply in 2018.

    Mr Otayitie Eminefo, the Special Adviser on Energy and Power to the governor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja, that the State Government had invested heavily in assets’ distribution to improve power supply.

    “Kogi residents should expect more stable light in 2018; as Gov. Yahaya Bello’s administration is facilitating the completion of Ohunene, Okene, Idah, Anyigba NIPP to be completed in March 2018.

    “Government is also establishing mini-grid systems for the rural areas and many more projects to light up Kogi and to ensure better services from the Abuja Electric Distribution Company (AEDC) in 2018.

    “Kogi is home to two major power generation plants which will afford us the opportunity to present our immediate needs and to show the world our efforts in boosting and enlarging the power sector in the state.

    “The governor has also set up ‘Kogi Electricity Complaint Centre’ to ensure citizen’s rights are protected as enshrined in the law. We have recorded milestone feats in power sector that have not been well captured.

    “The recently-hosted 22nd Power Sector Stakeholders’ meeting by Kogi, has enabled stakeholders to see and assess the outstanding work done by the state and set timelines for completion of the rest,” Eminefo said.

    He said that the governor on June 23, 2017, inaugurated projects of a 33KVA Overhead Line Extension moving from Jamata to Zango-Daji Junction to Banda, expected to serve eight communities in Lokoja and Koton-Karfe Local Government Areas.

    The special adviser said: “The government has also supplied several 500/33KVA, 500/11KVA and 300/11KVA transformers and installation in various communities, and building Injection Sub-stations of 5MVA across the state.

    “The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is also proposing a 330KV line from Makurdi to Anyigba to ensure that Kogi people benefit from the upcoming Mambilla Hydro Project.’’

    Eminefo advised consumers against meter bypass and all forms of illegal connections, urging them to protect the facility against vandals, and to promptly pay their bills for effective and sustained services.

    NAN reports that Kogi Government on Dec. 11, hosted the 22nd Power Sector Monthly Meeting with power stakeholders and other participants at Geregu Power Plc in Ajaokuta.

     

    NAN

  • Fulani herdsmen kill 10 in Kogi invasion

    People suspected to be herdsmen, on Friday, killed 10 residents of Ogabifo village in Omala Local government area of Kogi State.

    Farmlands were also set ablaze by the rampaging herdsmen.

    Reports from the area said the herdsmen invaded the farmlands with their animals for grazing, and when the farmers challenged them over the destruction of their crops, the invaders responded aggressively.

    They attacked the farmers and pursued them to their homes and killed some of them while several others were wounded.

    It was gathered that after the said invasion, the herdsmen returned to the farms, destroying crops and then ran away.

    A source whose name could not be ascertained said that the Fulani herdsmen, about five in number, were armed with AK 47 and other dangerous weapons.

    The source said that the villagers have deserted their houses, following threats by the herdsmen, to return.

    In another incident, Fulani herdsmen invaded a rice farmland at Omi in Yagba West local government area of the state, with over 30 cattle.

    One of the victims said that other farmers were on their farms working, when they heard gunshots, forcing them to run for safety.

    Efforts made to confirm the incidents from the Kogi State Police Command proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.

  • [Photos] Despite owing salaries, Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi unveils palatial mansion

    While workers, pensioners Kogi State are languishing in the plentitude of sufferings as a result of emoluments owed them for long months, the story is different for Governor Yahaya Bello, who administers the state.

    Unperturbed by the many criticisms that beleaguer his administration, Gov Bello unveiled a palatial mansion for himself on Mahmoud Atta street, GRA Okene.

    Recall that whuile the house was under construction in August, some residents of the exclusive residential area complained that the governor converted the street entrance to his private gate.

    But Bello carried on with the project, at the time, Kingsley Fanwo, spokesman of the governor, said his principal had made a better provision for the affected residents.

    Among top dignitaries who were present at the occasion include Abdul Rahman Ado Ibrahim, Ohinoyi of Ebira land, joined the governor during the house-warming ceremony.

    See photos of the mansion…

     

  • I will pay workers’ salaries, pension arrears before 2018 – Kogi Gov, Bello

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi says he will pay all salary arrears of civil servants cleared and the pension arrears of retirees before the end of 2017.

    Bello also said that he would commence prompt payment of salaries of workers in the state public service from January 2018.

    He made the promise on Saturday at the commemoration of the 110th birthday of the Odeyani-Anebira, Alhaji Audu Otonoku and his eight years on the throne as the Otonoku in Lokoja. “As from January next year, we shall be paying all our cleared civil servants salaries as and when due.

    “I want to appreciate God that good days are coming to the people of Kogi,” he said. The governor traced the genesis of the delay in the payment of workers’ salaries to huge debts which he claimed his administration inherited from the immediate past administration.

    According to him, the corruption in the state civil service and the need to restore sanity to the service also account for the delay.

    Bello, represented by Mr Mumuni Okara, his Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said that the state government had done a lot to restore discipline into the service.

    He said that the state government had increased the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N350 million monthly to N1.2 billion. In his remarks, the Commissioner for Finance, Idris Asiru, said that the state government had discovered and eliminated from the payroll over 2,000 names of workers with fake certificates.

    Asiru said that the state government needed N30 billion to clear salaries and arrears of all workers that have been cleared. He said that the governor had given him directive to source for fund for the payment, assuring the workers that he would carry out the governor’s directive.

    Earlier, the Odeyani-Anebira commended Bello for his “giant strides in security, infrastructure development and civil service reform aimed at sanitising the service’’.

    The monarch also praised his title holders (Daudus) for maintaining peace and harmony among the Ebira living in Lokoja. He also lauded the executive council of Ebira Peoples Association (EPA) for its contribution toward the development of Ebiraland.

    Odeya-Onebira was born to the ancient family of Otonoku of Adangara clan in 1907 and was installed on Sept. 18, 2010 in Lokoja. Reeling out his achievements, Otonoku said he had been able to foster unity among Ebira residents and maintained peaceful coexistence of the Ebiras with other ethnic groups in Lokoja. He, however, called for building of a befitting palace for him and provision of vehicle befitting his status.

    Otonoku also called for the empowerment of Ebira women and youths to make them self-reliant. Highpoints of the occasion were the conferment of chieftaincy titles on some prominent citizens of Ebiraland and citizens of other tribes. Various groups displayed the rich cultural heritage of Ebiraland, among others.