Kogi LG Workers Endorse Tinubu, Ododo for 2027 »

Local government workers in Kogi State have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for another term in office ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The workers made their position known on Wednesday during a solidarity rally at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre in Lokoja, where thousands of staff from the 21 local government areas gathered to express support for the two administrations.

The workers said their support was influenced by what they described as improvements in their welfare and working conditions under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administrations.

Among the issues they cited were regular payment of salaries and pensions, approval of promotions and annual increments, improved access to local government allocations, as well as logistical and welfare support.

Speaking at the rally, Chairman of the Forum of Directors of Local Government, DLGs, Aliu Musa Omuya, said the workers had decided to reciprocate the administration’s support for their welfare.

Omuya said the mobilisation had been in the works for about a year and had continued to attract participants from across the state.

He stressed that the rally was not organised to present material gifts to the Governor but to publicly demonstrate the workers’ appreciation and political support for his administration.

Omuya also commended the State Accountant-General, Hajia Habibat Tijani, for her efforts in addressing issues affecting local government workers and supporting the state government’s efforts.

He said the workers were prepared to extend the mobilisation to the grassroots across the 21 local government areas.

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Muhammad Sanisu Yanya, said the gathering reflected the workers’ appreciation of the Governor’s administration.

Yanya listed prompt payment of salaries and pensions, regular release of local government allocations, approval of promotions and annual increments, as well as logistical and welfare support among the areas where workers had witnessed improvements.

He pledged the continued loyalty and support of local government employees in Kogi State and said the union would continue working to strengthen local government administration beyond 2027.

The State Chairman of NULGE, Tosin Olokun, also commended the administration for what he described as a turnaround in the welfare of local government workers.

Olokun said the workers were ready to remain united in support of President Tinubu and Governor Ododo, while calling for sustained collaboration between government and local government employees.

In her remarks, the State Accountant-General, Hajia Habibat Tijani, described the rally as a demonstration of grassroots support for Tinubu and Ododo.

She highlighted the strategic role of local government workers in grassroots mobilisation, noting that their close relationship with communities across the state placed them in a position to communicate government policies and programmes to residents.

Tijani assured the Governor that the workers at the rally were genuine supporters who had voluntarily identified with the administration.

Responding, Governor Ododo thanked the workers for organising the rally and for using the occasion to express their appreciation to President Tinubu.

The Governor said the event underscored the importance of grassroots politics, noting that local government workers were strategically positioned to communicate the achievements of government to people at the community level.

Ododo described the workers as “organic and natural canvassers” for President Tinubu in Kogi State, saying their support was based on what they had experienced under the current administration.

He also commended President Tinubu for approving major projects for Kogi State, including the establishment of an international and cargo airport and the development of international markets.

The Governor urged the workers to sustain their mobilisation across the 21 local government areas and assured them that his administration would continue to prioritise their welfare.

Ododo expressed confidence that the people of Kogi State would continue to support President Tinubu based on what he described as the achievements of the Federal Government and the benefits of its programmes and projects in the state.

The rally ended with renewed pledges of support for Tinubu and Ododo, with the local government workers promising to take their mobilisation to communities across Kogi State.