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Tag: Yahaya Bello

  • Pay us our salaries, we are dying – Kogi workers tell Gov Bello

    Workers in Kogi State have appealed to Governor Yahaya Bello to clear their backlog of their salaries before death kills them all.

    The appeal was made on behalf of the workers by the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Onu Edoka, spoke on Friday at an event to mark the 40th anniversary of the union in the country.

    Recall that workers in Kogi were paid 60 per cent of five months’ salary arrears last December and had yet to be paid January salaries.

    Edoka, in a keynote address said, “Your Excellency, workers said I should ask you where our salaries are. As obedient servants, we are dying. As people who have contributed their quota in the development of the state and have left service, we are dying.

    “To this end, we wish to compassionately appeal to you. We are aware that allocation came to Kogi State last month and by the statement of the Commissioner for Finance, what came as allocation to the state was put at N4.3bn while local governments got N3.8bn. But up until this moment, no salary has been paid in Kogi. Let our own not drop into River Niger again (sic).”

    Edoka equally used the forum to speak on the alleged premature retirement of some workers, proscription of labour unions and the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by medical doctors in the state.

    He said, “You will agree with me that appointment in this government has been upside down in the sense that junior workers are placed above seniors.

    “Medical doctors in Kogi have been on strike for over one month. Mothers, children are dying at home. For this obvious fact, we appeal to the state government to call our doctors to a meeting and bring this mater to an end.

    “Why the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have not joined the strike is because we have come to the realisation that strike may not be the solution to our problems any more. It is all about the person who is the chief executive and his state of mind on the development and welfare of workers.

    “The proscription of unions in Kogi is completely detrimental to the progress of democracy, unacceptable to the Nigeria Labour Congress and completely illegal, and we shall not stand by it.

    “We will speak for the voiceless and the same voice will still speak again. We shall resist it with the last drop of our blood to see that we will not be tamed in any form or turned beggars in our state.”

    In his response, Bello said that the ongoing fight against corruption across the country would achieve greater success if organised labour strengthened itself and worked with the government to fish out corrupt officials.

    Bello urged the NLC to fight for the welfare of Nigerian workers and play the role of whistle-blower to assist government in bringing corrupt officials to justice.

    The governor, who was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Simon Achuba, congratulated labour on its 40th anniversary and enjoined its leadership to always stand for what is good for workers and the country.

  • Why Nigerians must re-elect Buhari in 2019 – Yahaya Bello

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has pleaded with Nigerians to re-elect President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, saying his re-election is in “the best interest of Nigerians”.

    The governor, who spoke through a statement by his Director General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said the country is witnessing progress under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

    According to him, it is taking a lot of efforts to “rescue the country from the deep pit of economic mess” which previous administrations put it.

    The statement reads: “We were here during the previous administration, and we saw what our country went through. Revelations in courts and from anti-graft agencies have shown us how bad the country was exposed to economic woes.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari came and has continued to do his best to sanitise the country and relaunch it on the map of international reckoning.

    “It takes more time to rebuild than to destroy. For our President to have achieved this much is magical and laudable. In the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, President Buhari should continue to lead our country beyond 2019”.

    Governor Bello said those opposed to Buhari’s re-election were only “exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression”.

    According to him, they are not “necessarily speaking the minds of millions of Nigerians who were at the receiving end of bad governance, corruption and terrorism before the rescue mission of President Muhammadu Buhari”.

    He added: “Anybody is free to form associations to pursue interests, provided the associations are not injurious to the laws of the land. Anyone is free to air his or her views; that remains one of the beautiful gains of our Government of Change.

    “In the recent past, airing such views, even within the space of our democratic dispensation, was considered an affront on the country. Today, fundamental rights are freely exercised.

    “However, Nigerians have continued to show their solidarity with the President. He will easily win again in 2019”.

    Bello called for prayers for Nigeria to continue to live in peace and harmony.

     

  • I saw Gov Yahaya Bello in prison uniform – Melaye

    Senator Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West) has disclosed that he saw Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, in a well decorated embroidered prison uniform in his dream.

    The lawmaker was responding to a threat by Governor Bello, that many members of the National Assembly will not be re-elected in 2019.

    In a video on his Instagram page, Melaye said: “I begin to ask myself why will any intellectually mobile character, sound and sane, speak like that.

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    “And if anyone wants to talk like that, it’s not a man that has commited electoral fraud, who is awaiting trial and obviously will soon go to prison. ”

    “And I had a dream recently where I saw Yahya Bello’s prison uniform specially decorated with embroidery, so I’ll be shocked that Yahya is already threatening people not to come back because, he’s not a voter in Kogi State.

    “Secondly, he cannot contest elections in Kogi State come 2019.”

    A post shared by Dino Melaye (@dinomelaye) on

  • I never gave N2m, cars to masquerades – Yahaya Bello

    ..says Buhari will get higher votes in Kogi than Katsina in 2019

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has dismissed reports that he gave masquerades in Okene N2 million and vehicle each.

    Speaking to State House correspondents after he observed the Ju’maat prayer at the Aso Rock mosque, Bello there was nothing of that nature at all.

    “I think I’m just hearing that for the first time. But let me just tell you that in Kogi State, first we promote culture, two we don’t give millions to masquerades.

    “In our culture Masquerades are ancestors, I don’t know how a masquerade will go and spend money? Is it in the grave?

    “They are supposed to be spirits and I don’t know how masquerades will spend money. There is nothing of that nature at all,’’ he said.

    On the forthcoming 2019 general election, the governor disclosed that Kogi had already endorsed President Buhari for the presidential election in 2019.

    President Buhari is from Daura in Katsina state, but the votes that would come out of Kogi would dwarf that of Katsina state.

    I’m sure you are following us as we are receiving decampees from PDP and all other political parties.

    “And any time we hold any decamping rally in any local government you will see the mammoth crowd that will turn out.

    “So Kogi State has already endorsed President Buhari for second term, we are just waiting for the time to come.

    “You are going to see the votes that will come out of Kogi State, it will dwarf that of Katsina State I can assure you”.

     

  • ‘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.

  • 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”.

  • Melaye don cry out o, say Gov. Yahaya Bello no gree am donate 1260 bags of rice to Kogi civil servant I TNGtv

  • Labour crisis: Politicians are playing with destiny of people of Kogi – Bello

    Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state, says some politicians are playing with the destiny of the people of his state.

    On Wednesday, some workers in the state appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send food supplies and other relief materials to them.

    The workers said they had not received salaries between 11 and 21 months.

    But reacting through Kingsley Fanwo, his spokesman, Bello said demands of labour do not warrant the “desperate posture” to paint government as inhumane and irresponsible.

    “The tyranny of labour’s blackmail and campaign of calumny against government has clearly shown there are some underbelly factors surrounding the industrial disagreement between it and government in the state,” he said.

    “This government has shown transparency and accountability by publishing our accounts and what has been paid to the individual worker in the state. No worker has come out to disclaim our facts.

    “Facts at the disposal of government show that some desperate politicians are playing politics with the destiny of the people of Kogi state, who need the services for which these striking workers are paid. When we chose to confront the failed system of the past, we had no doubt of the attendant contention with the entrenched forces of retrogression who benefited from the blind corruption of the past.

    “We have started a process of recovering our looted commonwealth from past leaders. A white paper implementation committee was constituted to recover the loot. But Labour was used to strikes. We shall remain focused in ensuring that we recover every kobo stolen from the coffers of this great state.”

    “We promised a reformed, robust, disciplined, digital and accountable civil service that will oil our New Direction Agenda. This administration is poised to pursue it to a logical conclusion to the benefit of the populace,” he added.

    “We are not ignorant of the fact that some disgruntled elements are uncomfortable with the digitalization of the civil service operations which will curb truancy and corruption. As a responsible government, we have never denied owing workers a few months salary. We have paid half of July and we are in the process of paying the balance as well as the August salary.

    “The need for labour to embrace dialogue stems from the paucity of resources across the nation. It is not peculiar to our state. We are ready to dialogue with labour when they return to work and we hope they will do that in the interest of the good people of Kogi state.

    “We will be decisive if they remain adamant and continue to go violent on workers who do not believe in their agitation.”

  • APC inaugurate committee to reconcile Yahaya Bello, Melaye

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Monday in Abuja, inaugurated a seven-member reconciliation committee for the party’s Kogi State chapter at the APC National Secretariat.

    The seven-member committee, which is chaired by Gen. Idris Garba(retd.), also has as members, Chief Don Etiebet, Patricia Etteh; Group Capt. Rufai Garba(retd.), Alhaji Umar Lawan Kareto, Group Capt. Joe Orji (retd.) and the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Mr. Victor Giadom (secretary).

    The state Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello, and Senator Dino Melaye, have been fighting for the control of the soul of the party.

    At the inauguration, the APC national chairman thanked members of the reconciliation committee for agreeing to serve the party.

    He said the party’s leadership wanted peace and settlement in the Kogi State chapter of the party.

    Odigie-Oyegun said, “The situation in Kogi is unique. And we want to give every possible opportunity for a settlement. What triggered the events in Kogi was very tragic in their nature.

    “So for us as a party, we are bending over backwards to say, yes we understand your feelings; we understand what you have been through; we understand the work that you have put in to get the APC elected; we understand also that God who disposes of power, brought somebody at the last minute to be the beneficiary of all the work and labour that everybody obviously has put in.”

    Garba thanked the party for selecting the committee members for the assignment and expressed the resolve of the committee to bring peace to the party in the state.

  • Kogi govt declares public holiday over Buhari’s return

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has declared Monday, August 21 as public holiday and Thanksgiving day to commemorate the safe return of President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical vacation in London.

    A statement issued on Sunday in Lokoja by his Director General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said the gesture was in line with the support of the Kogi people for “the renaissance of our nation by Mr. President”.

    “We urge Kogites to also use the occasion of the Public Holiday to pray for Mr. President as he resumes his responsibilities of repositioning Nigeria,” the statement said.

    The Governor thanked people of the state for standing by the President and for trooping to Abuja in thousands to welcome the ‘Lion of Africa’.