Attack Against Yahaya Bello: Kogi Government Rebukes Ex-PGF DG, Lukman

Kogi  Government has rebuked the  former Director-General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Mr Salihu Lukman over his outbursts against the Gov. Yahaya Bello.

The state also decried Lukman’s outburst against Gov.  Mai Mala Buni, .APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) Chairman. 

Lukman had accused the party leadership of extortion from   aspirants ahead of the APC March 26 National Convention and also asked that Bello be prevented from getting the presidential ticket of the party.

The former PGF DG also alleged that Bello was yet to begin  payment of N30,000 minimum wage as announced and that workers were earning 25 per cent of their salaries.

Reacting in a statement  on Tuesday signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the state government said Lukman’s allegations were baseless and untrue.

Fanwo added that he should not “allow his  exit as the Director-General of PGF, lead him to  disparaging party leaders.”

Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Kogi,  Mr  Onu Edoka, has confirmed that the state government had embarked on the payment of N30,000 minimum wage to its  workers.

Edoka said  Bello’s administration had not been owing salaries or paying 25 per cent of salaries, contrary to Lukman and other naysayers’ claims.

Edoka, in an interview with the media on Tuesday, said the minimum wage was only approved for the state’s civil servants on level 1 to 6, adding that “it is not true that workers earn 25 per cent of their salaries.

Fanwo, in his statement, said, “The attention of the Kogi government has been drawn to the disparaging statements credited to a former employee of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Salihu Lukman concerning the popular presidential ambition of Bello.

“The unfounded allegations against the administration of  Bello cannot  sway the minds of Nigerians or party leaders.

“But asking the party to prevent Bello, a leading presidential hopeful, from getting the party’s ticket, already stamps the fact that all eyes are on him to take the party to victory in the 2023 general elections, which everyone knows will be keenly contested.

“We are not surprised at his recent outburst against key party leaders. He has proved himself to be a mole in APC with a mission to undermine it and ultimately hand advantage to the opposition.

“We, however, want to assure him that no one has the monopoly of caustic statements. Bello has only refrained from dignifying detractors with responses, venom for venom, because of his sound upbringing.

”But Lukman should be ready to face the consequences of his actions as we will not leave any stone unturned to seek redress legally.

“We will not watch him continue to rubbish the image of our dear party in the manner he has been doing.”“

The state reiterated that Bello  remained a key figure holding the APC  together and had the support and endorsement of overwhelming majority of party faithful to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Lukman should wake up to the fact that his campaign of calumny will not wane the love APC and Nigerians have for Bello.

“We find it needful to inform the public that the historic and audacious staff verification exercise undertaken by the  Bello administration at inception did not only paint the payroll in the colours of integrity and transparency, but also ensured efficiency in the service.

“Many unintended beneficiaries were removed and the state immediately ensured that 100 per cent salaries were paid to the civil servants.

“It is instructive to note that the staff verification exercise was carried out with the full cooperation and deep involvement of labour unions who have always cooperated with the state government in its bid to reposition and strengthen the service.

“Nigerians are adequately informed of the  allocation shared during the last FAAC meeting. Many states have yet to pay their February salaries.”

He pointed out that the internally generated revenue of Kogi  wasn’t at the standard the administration had set as a result of economic downturn, owing to the energy crisis that hit the nation in February.

“But as an administration that is committed to the welfare of its  civil servants, the Kogi  government sat with labour leaders and agreed to pay 75 cent.

“It has since been paid with the full implementation of the minimum wage. This is against the lies peddled by Lukman that Kogi workers received 25 percentage of their old salaries.

“Only civil servants on grade level seven  and above received 75 per cent . Civil servants on Grade Level one  to six received 100 per cent salary with the 30,000 minimum wage.

“The governor and all political office holders also received 75 per cent in solidarity with our workforce. To us, this is responsible and responsive leadership.”

He  reiterated the commitment of Bello’s  administration  to the welfare of the workforce and that no amount of lies sponsored would  prevent the governor from answering the popular call by  Nigerian masses to serve the nation in the presidential capacity.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Kogi,  Mr  Onu Edoka, has confirmed that the state government had embarked on the payment of N30,000 minimum wage to its  workers.

Edoka said  Bello’s administration in Kogi had not been owing salaries or paying 25 per cent of salaries, contrary to the claim of Lukman and other critics.

Edoka, in an interview with the media on Tuesday, said the minimum wage was only approved for the state’s civil servants on level 1 to 6, adding that “it is not true that workers earn 25 per cent of their salaries.”(NAN

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