Joy as Kogi workers receive five months salary arrears »

Hush quiet has enveloped Kogi State, especially in homes of civil servants who have been soaked in joyous glee. A sort of calm and quietness is also being currently felt as the administration of Governor Yahaya has cleared the five months salaries of its workers. It is clear to the hearing of the advocates of the new direction government.

It was in the light of the above that InsideStory crew went out to hear from civil servants in lokoja the state capital on Tuesday. The workers who have received their salaries expressed joy and gratitude for the decision of Governor Yahaya Bello to approve the five months payment.

According to Shaibu Mohammed, he was overwhelmed with joy when his account was further credited with the balance of three months.

His words; “we got the alert of two months in two days and the three months just came last night. Na Governor Bello we know o! He has done well, by keeping his word of clearing all outstanding. Our joy is full as I speak, this payment will go a long way in mitigating the effect of the hardware times we have faced.”

Speaking with another civil servant from the Ministry of Works, Mrs Menun Abdullahi who also confirmed to have received her salaries, commended the state government for succeeding in clearing their doubts.

“Some of us even though we prayed at a time for the release of the bailout funds to the state government, we were however sceptical about government’s readiness to pay us once. But, sincerely the government has succeeded in proving many wrong.

“Governor Yahaya Bello has shown to the world that he has genuine intensions and that he is concerned about the welfare of the workers. He melted my heart with the payments. Tell all other oppositions to hold on till after the reelection of Governor Bello.

“With this singular act of his, personally I will vote for his reelection and convince my family members to do also. We are optimistic about his winning and we pray that salary will never be an issue in our state again,” she concluded.

Pensioners are not left out of this payment as they equally have been paid up-to-date.

Similarly, the payment of local government workers is ongoing and from information gathered so far, their payment is in full ‘hundred percent’.