I’ll Pay Salaries Backlog Of Kogi Workers Before End Of Year – Gov Yahaya Bello

BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has promised that he would clear all backlog of salaries owed civil servants in the state before the end of the year.

Speaking with newsmen in Kaduna at the end of the meeting of Northern Governors’ Forum, Bello however said that his administration did not incur any debt through the non-payment of salaries to workers since he assumed office governor of Kogi State, adding that the five months outstanding salaries were incurred by the past administration which he inherited in the state.

Bello said; “The five months outstanding salaries was incurred by the previous administration which was inherited by my administration. The previous administration applied for N80.8bn from the Federal Government and President Buhari approved #50.8bn but due to my prudent management, l withdrew only #20bn.

“The utilisation of the N20bn was published in national dailies including how it was shared between the Local Government Areas and the state civil servants. What is owed by the previous administration is exactly what is owed now. Under my watch, l am not owing a single dine but inherited liability which Mr President has approved. As soon as we withdraw that, we shall clear all the arrears.”

The Kogi governor said that without accessing the N30.8bn, he would raise money and clear the remaining arrears of workers’ backlog of salaries owed by the state government.

Bello, who restated his commitment to ensuring equity in governance, said he has laid a solid foundation for the state whose future had not been visioned for growth and development by previous governments since its creation 28 years ago.

He explained that his administration has come out with a blueprint which was downloaded in the budget and being implemented adequately, adding that it was gratifying to note that Kogi was rated as the most secured states in the country, a feat which he said, should be acknowledged by all and sundry.

Bello said that traditional rulers in the state, who have seen his vision for the state, as stakeholders have endorsed his second term in order to move the state higher in all spheres of life.