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The Kogi State Governmet has commended the commitment of workers in the state towards the rapid growth of the civil service and the overall development of the state.
He also assured them of his continues support for policies that will enhance their welfare and productivity.
Governor Yahaya Bello gave the assurance on Saturday in his address to mark this year’s International Workers’ Day Celebration in Lokoja.
The Governor who was represented by the State Head of Service (HOS), Mrs Hannah Odiyo at the event, noted that civil servants constituted the engine room of governance globally, hence the need to accord their welfare topmost priority in order to boost their productivity and day to day performances.
Bello expressed delight that under his administration, Kogi workers have gained recognition by the national rating Agencies for their improved productivity.
The Governor also observed that his administration even under serious financial constraints has continued to promptly fulfill its financial obligations to it’s work force, while it soughts new means to ensure that their welfare were further improved upon.
Governor Bello therefore, urged the workers to reciprocate the gesture through hard work and dedication to their duties which according to him will added value to the growth of the civil service and general development of the state.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kogi Chapter, Onu Edoka had called on government at all levels to tackle the prevailing insecurity across the country to arrest the current killings of the innocent citizens and destruction of their properties.
Edoka maintained that Governor Yahaya Bello is one of the notable Governors in the federation that has excelled tremendously in tackling insecurity describing his efforts as worthy of emulation.
The Labour Leader also task government to remedy the havoc done to citizens as a result of the out break of the Coronavirus Pandemic across the globe since last year.
Edoka said that the Theme of this year’s celebration: COVID-19 PANDEMIC SOCIALAND ECONOMIC CRISIS CHALLENGES FOR JOBS, SOCIAL PROTECTION AND PEOPLE’S WELFARE, was carefully selected to address the impact of the devastation caused by the dreaded disease and the way forward to over the trend headlong.
He commended Governor Yahaya Bello for regular payment of salaries and pensions in the state but called him to as a matter of urgency speedy up the process of implementation of the new national minimum wage to its workers.
Edoka also called on the Governor to address the problem of percentage salary payment to primary school teachers and local government staff in order to alleviate their sufferings.
The NLC Chairman further appealed to the Governor to look into the problems of promotion without cash backing, none payment of leave grants and none implementation of yearly incremental steps for workers with a view to addressing them immediately.
While lamenting the current shortage of teaching staff in both primary and secondary school levels, Edoka called on the Governor to approve the recruitment of more teachers and other staff in some core ministries, departments and agencies.
