From Ahmed Muhammed Danasabe, Lokoja
Hon. Oluwasegun Joseph, Kogi State Commissioner For Environment and Ecological Management has praised the prompt approval of the Minimum Wage Committee Report by Governor Usman Ododo.
The Commissioner said by the Governor’s action, he has silenced the voices of the insignificant opposition, described the approval as both a promise kept, a demonstration of his love for Kogi workers and has restored workers’ dignity.
The Commissioner asserted in a statement in Lokoja, described the worker’s Policy of Gov. Ododo as unprecedented, and said that the Governor has further made their campaign seamless.
He said: “The signing of the minimum wage committee report by His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo is both a promise kept and a demonstration of his people-centric governance model.
“Ododo promised to prioritize the welfare and well-being of the Kogi workers during his electioneering campaigns and he has kept that promise.
He did not stop there; He ensured that there was a provision in the Minimum Wage Report to suspend the tax burden on the sum for one year.
“This shows that workers take home pay will continue to take them home under the present administration.”
He commended Governor Usman Ododo for keeping his promise to pay Kogi workers a living wage, which became a reality just in less than one year of his administration in office.
“The Governor deserves the commendation of all for staying true to his promise,” the APC flag bearer said.
He also commended Kogi workers for their resilience and contribution to state-building over the years and urged them to redouble their efforts in the delivery of effective services for the betterment of the citizenry.
He also commended the organised labour movement in the state led by the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Gabriel Amari, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Sule Ahmed Tijani and the State President of the Nigeria Union Of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Alhaji Sanusi Nyanyan, for their painstaking, matured and peaceful negotiations that led to the over 100 per cent increase in workers’ wages from N30,000.00 to N72,500.00 by Governor Ododo.
JOS, as he is fondly called, further lauded all members of the Minimum Wage Committee, ably led by Mr Elijah Evenemi, for his quick response to get the report ready, which has now been assented to by the Governor.
He noted that their dedication to the cause of the Kogi workers and unflinching support for the people-oriented policies and programmes of the Ododo administration mark them out as a very patriotic lot with nationalistic zeal to ensure the welfare of Kogites since 1999.
He commended the leadership of the organised Private Sector for keying into the Governor’s vision for an enhanced pay package for Kogi workers in agreeing to pay workers the new minimum wage.
He assured workers in particular and Kogites in general that the empathy, love and care already demonstrated by the Governor in ensuring the overall welfare of Kogites in his few months in office is just the tip of the iceberg compared to when the many economic policies he has initiated take root and begin to bear fruits.
