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Some newly elected legislators from Kogi have expressed divergent views on the 40 per cent pay-cut announced by the state government on salaries of public and civil servants.
Speaking with our correspondent in Abuja over the weekend, some of them blamed the problem on bad governance; others blamed it on reduction in monthly allocation to the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Mr. Jacob Edi, had on Wednesday announced a 40 per cent pay-cut in the salaries of public and civil servants in the state.
According to him, the state government got N2.5 billion allocation in April, but has monthly wage bill of N3.2 billion.
Mr. Abdulraman Abubakar, Senator-elect to represent Kogi East (APC) blamed the slash on the low Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state which makes it reliant on Federal Government allocation.
He said that the allocation to the state has been dwindling and the state’s N400 million monthly IGR could not augment allocation.
“I am aware that what the government got for last month was a lot lower than its normal allocation so the government is doing its best out of a bad situation.
“The wage bill is the right of a worker, but I will call for understanding with the government, I am sure the situation will pickup and there will be improved revenue,” he said.
He said that the state government was doing all it could to meet the demands of workers.
Abubakar urged the state to strive to improve on its IGR which was about N400 million per month, so that the state does not completely rely on the Federal Government’s allocation.
Reacting to allegations that the salary slash had been in existence for the past three years, Mr. Emmanuel Egwu, Member-elect to represent Ida, Igalamela, Odolu, Ofu and Ibaji Federal Constituency of Kogi said it was untrue.
He said that most of the states under the All Progressives Congress were not paying salaries.
He said that the state until now has been very steady in its payment of salaries even though the governor upon assumption of office met an increased salary and debts.
He also blamed the salary slash on reduction in allocation to the state due to the nation’s economic challenges.
“You can go to the records and confirm yourself, the wage bill is more than the allocation and you cannot give what you do not have and that was the basis of the slash,” he said.
He said that the state had seen the need to improve its IGR which was why it had recruited a consultant to proffer avenues through which the state could generate more revenue.
However, for Hon. Dino Melaye Senator-elect to represent Kogi-West (APC) he blamed the salary slash on bad governance.
Dino said that the workers in Kogi have for a long time only been receiving a percentage of their salaries.
“The APC has a guideline that controls every governor of every state and I can assure you that the issue of revenue generation will be taken care of by the party.
He joined the many voices to call for the reduction in the salaries of National Assembly members, adding that he will personally champion the course.
He said the legislators must be sacrificial and allow a cut in their salaries and the funds used to handle other developmental projects including proper oversight function.
For Mr. Hassan Omale APC-Member-elect to represent Ankpa, Omala, Olamaboro Federal Constituency in Kogi the workers had not been collecting complete salaries for a long time.
“In the Local governments, since the last three years they have not received their complete salaries, they have been suffering there,” he said.
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