***Announces 12-month tax relief including PAYE, other deductions
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
GOVERNOR Ahmed Usman Ododo has approved N72,500 as the Minimum Wage payable to workers in Kogi State civil service as well as Local Government workers across the state.
The governor gave the approval on Monday in Lokoja while receiving report of the Kogi State Minimum Wage Implementation Committee headed by the state Head of Service (HOS), Mr Elijah Evinemi.
Ododo said that he was committed to the overall welfare of all cadres of workers in the state said the approval and implementation of the new Minimum Wage take immediate effect.
The approval of the N72,500 minimum wage by Governor Ododo is N2,500 higher than the N70,000 approved in July by the federal government for all categories of workers in both private and public sectors in the country.
In appreciation of the prevailing economic difficulties, the Governor also announced a 12-month tax relief including Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) and all other forms of tax deductions for all workers within the period.
Ododo said that having been a labour leader and a civil servant before going into partisan politics, he knew and is well acquainted with what the civil servants are passing through.
He noted that now that God has made him the governor, he would do all within his powers and the state resources, to assuage their plight by providing needed succour for the workforce.
“I can not forget where I came from. I am a man from a humble background who became who I am by the grace of God and will therefore not use my position to oppress anyone but to better the lots of the people
“You people generously elected me as your governor and the resources of the state belong to you all, I am just your chief servant and I will ensure that the resources are allocated to all sectors fairly and equitably.
“All you have seen today is the painstaking efforts of the labour leaders and government who conducted staff audit screenings in the previous administrations all in a bid to ensure that the right people take what belongs to them as workers and not ghost workers”, he added.
The governor said all his administration needed from the people was their continued support and urged them to accord him necessary support for qualitative and people-oriented governance as he assured the workers of prompt payment of their salaries.
Speaking earlier on behalf of the Organised Labour, Comrade Gabriel Amari, Kogi chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), commended Governor Ododo for his efforts and described him as the best workers’ friendly governor the state has ever had.
Comrade Amari expressed surprise at the seamless manner with which the implementation committee arrived at the new minimum wage saying that some states in the country were yet to constitute their implementation committees.
He was enthused by the performance of the implementation committee which, he said, was set up on September 17, and in less than one month, had come out with a minimum wage that gives joy to the workers.
On behalf of the workers, the NLC Chairman, promised enhanced commitment to duties, continued cooperation with the governor, to implement his good plans for the state. (Ends)