***Employers should emulate Edo Governor’s Minimum wage Policy

The Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last Governorship election in Kogi State Alhaj Muritala Yakubu Ajaka has sent his message of felicitations to the Nigerian workers on 2024 May Day celebration

In a Statement he personally signed, Alhaji Ajaka congratulated the Nigerian workers for their exemplary patriotism and spartan resilience especially in recent times when the cost of living for the common man in the nation is at on the high side

According to him, “On this 1st day of May, 2024, I wish to congratulate all Nigerian workers on the commemoration of their hallowed May Day which is dedicated to honour the organised Labour globally.

“Indeed, I join other well-meaning countrymen and women in applauding the exemplary patriotism and spartan resilience of the Nigerian worker especially in recent times when the cost of living for the common man in our nation is at an all time high, largely due to the hydra-headed malaise of systemic financial haemorrhage and economic sabotage dubiously perpetrated by a few vested interests that tamper with the workings of our nation’s foreign exchange machinery.

“Expectedly, the ripple consequence of these have impacted negatively on the power of the Naira, thereby stoking prices of basic commodities and services through the roof tops of Nigerians.
“I salute the organised Labour championed by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for their relentless struggle to balance the perennial interests of workers with government policies on wage distribution and other socio-economic cum political variables of Nigeria’s political economy.”

He however acknowledged the bold steps being taken by the present administration to address the various multifaceted social, security and economic changes facing the country in order to improve the standard of living of the citizens

According to him, “The good news is that this administration is fast strengthening the arms of strategic institutions of government that are responsible for managing the monetary, fiscal and financial integrity of Nigeria to close hideous gaps that facilitate corruption and debilitating duplicity which undermine the economic fitness of our dear nation.

“Impactful as government’s drive to heal the ominous malady of our economy is, I further urge that the minimum wage upgrade of Nigerian workers at all cadres should be fully implemented forthwith in order that they may receive a true living wage that can guarantee an agreeable life. This will inarguably signpost honour, empathy and commitment to the virtue of social justice and equity.

He also applauded the decision of the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki to raise the minimum wage of the state civil servants to N70,000 per month and urged other States, the private sector and other employers of labor in the country to emulate the feat

According to him, “On this note, I acknowledge with the highest respect the approval of His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki-the Governor of Edo State for the payment henceforth, of N70,000.00 minimum wage to Edo workers. This feat should be the irreducible minimum for other States, the private sector and other employers across Nigeria”

END

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

Civil Society Organizations and Media stakeholders in Kogi have called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to deploy adequate political for implementation of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) through engagement in Dialogue Mechanism.

The Stakeholders who made the call on Saturday in Lokoja at a One-day Capacity Building on Permanent Dialogue Mechanism organized by Stallion Times Media Services, said all that mattered in implementing the OGP Action Plan was the governor’s political will.

They recalled that periodic Town Hall Meeting was one of the key commitments the governor made during his electioneering campaigns.

The workshop was organized by Stallion Times Media Services as part of its implementation of the Participatory Governance and Media Literacy Project tagged “Get Involved, Dialogue and Improve (G-DRIP)” in Kano and Kogi states.

The project is being implemented under the Collaboration for Media Independence and Government Accountability supported by the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism and funded by MacArthur Foundation.

In his opening remarks, Isiyaku Ahmed, Managing Director of Stallion Times and Coordinator of the project, said the Town Hall meetings would help advance citizens’ engagement in governance, a model which would also help evolve the Theory of Change using the OGP.

He urged the government to display enough political will and commitment to the implementation the Open Government Partnership state Action Plan by upholding its promise of Dialogue Mechanism.

“If this continues throughout the four-year life span of an administration, it becomes a Permanent Dialogue Mechanism and if it is yielding results, successive governments will have no option than to sustain it.

“The tool to make this happen is the OGP which is a tool for transparency and accountability with different thematic areas touching on every aspect of the economy”, he said.

In his goodwill message to the occasion, Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Media, Ismail Isah, said the Governor was committed to the ideals of openness in governance.

He said that it was against this backdrop that the governor had led a transparent and accountable government in the last 90 days.

One of the Co-Chairpersons of the OGP Kogi State Steering Committee, Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina, in his “Heartfelt Goodwill Message”, said the committee was committed to fostering transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.

“This capacity building session marks a significant milestone in our collective journey towards building open, inclusive, and responsive government systems that truly serve the needs and aspirations of our citizens.

“The establishment of a robust Permanent Dialogue Mechanism is crucial in ensuring that the voices of all stakeholders, including civil society organizations, government agencies, and citizens are heard and integrated into the decision-making processes of the state”, Muraina said.

The workshop featured “Definition and Characteristics of an Effective Coalition” by Isiyaku Ahmed, MD/CEO, Stallion Times.

Also featured are “Civil Society and the OGP in Nigeria – Practice and Prospects”, and “Effective Advocacy – Concepts, Principles, Techniques, Tools and Skills by Uchenna Arisukwu, CS Adviser, OGP National Secretariat, Abuja.

The workshop had in attendance representatives Government, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Council of Ulamah, CSOs, MDAs, PWDs and the Media. (Ends)

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi has unveiled 147 Operational Vehicles for the state Vigilante Services in furtherance of his government’s determination to ensure security of every lives and property across length and breadth of the state.

The operational vehicles distributed include105 Sienna and Volkswagen Sharan patrol vehicles and 42 motorcycles at five cars and two motorcycles per Local Government Area.

In his address at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, venue of the unveiling, on Friday in Lokoja, Governor Ododo reiterated his administration’s commitment to safety and security of every life and property of the people.

He said that the set of operational vehicles were to enhance the operational efficiency and capability of security architecture in the state, particularly the local vigilante services for community policing.

Ododo stressed that flag off event was a further testament to his administration’s collective resolve as a government to tackle security challenges in the state head-on with enhanced speed and overall efficiency of security operatives.

The Governor hinted that the 147 operational security vehicles were the first installment of several hundreds to be provided in the next few weeks to advance the safety and security of lives and property in all parts of the state.

“This stands as one of our most significant operational responses to recent upsurge in criminal activities in some parts of the state.

“Therefore, the recent launch of the Metropolitan Quick Response in Lokoja and other major towns in the state and this unveiling of operational vehicles are among series of evolving security measures.

“These are geared towards ensuring that we keep our environment safe and to build on the solid foundation of the security architecture laid by the immediate past administration in the state”, the governor said.

Ododo reiterated the state government’s unequivocally resolve to maintain law and order in all parts of the state as it maintains consistent review of the security situation to fight against criminals in our state must be won.

“We cannot, and we will not allow criminal elements to undermine the progress and prosperity we have worked so hard to achieve in our state”, he said.

The Governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) for his unwavering commitment to reverse the spate of inherited security challenges in the country.

“As a government, we are in total support of Mr. President in his determination to take the fight to the terrorists in all parts of the county as we have seen in recent onslaughts to degrade cells of bandits and terrorists across Nigeria.”

“We want to further assure Mr President that we are fully committed to a comprehensive approach to address security challenges in the State, we shall bring the remnant of these criminals and their sponsors to justice in no time.”

Ododo said that the new addition to the state security master plan would involve all security agencies feeding from the credible intelligence and direct community engagement.

This, he said, would enable the people in the farms, markets, homes and every part of the community to ensure that people are safe to engage in legitimate economic activities.
(Ends)