Ododo Remains Best Option for Kogi Workers, Labour Adviser Says »

Kogi workers have been urged to support continuity in the state’s administration, with the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Labour Matters, Comrade Onuh Edoka, highlighting regular salary payments, pension commitments and other welfare measures as reasons for backing the government.

Edoka made the call on Tuesday during the Workplace Security and Workers’ Welfare Campaign in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, where he addressed union executives, civil servants and community leaders.

The Labour Adviser said the Ododo administration had repositioned workers and pensioners as priority stakeholders in governance, arguing that irregular salary payments and pension delays had become a thing of the past.

According to him, the state government currently commits N150 million monthly to the Pension Commission, amounting to N1.8 billion annually for pension payments.

He also disclosed that the government was concluding arrangements to secure a bond or loan facility to offset outstanding gratuities owed to pensioners.

Edoka said Kogi was among the first states to implement the new national minimum wage and had also introduced a two-year tax exemption on the wage increase.

He added that local government workers were receiving full salaries, while other welfare measures, including payment of promotions and arrears, leave bonuses, hazard allowances for health workers and health insurance for workers and pensioners, were being implemented.

The Special Adviser further cited the recent donation of three new buses to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen organised labour activities in the state.

During the engagement, Edoka interacted with representatives of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Medical and Health Workers Union, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) and National Union of Pensioners (NUP).

He urged workers to remain security-conscious in their places of work, while stressing that the government recognised the sacrifices made by workers at the grassroots.

Edoka said the Workplace Security and Workers’ Welfare Campaign was not limited to security awareness but was also aimed at consolidating what he described as gains recorded under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ododo.

He noted that increasing retirements and the growing pension burden had made the recruitment of new personnel necessary, adding that the state was planning large-scale recruitment to inject fresh manpower into the civil service.

The Labour Adviser urged workers to make deliberate political choices ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing that continuity was necessary to sustain progress in wages, pensions, health coverage and industrial relations.

The Okehi engagement formed part of the ongoing statewide campaign through which the Kogi State Government is taking its message on workplace security, workers’ welfare and continuity to different parts of the state.