The Kogi State Government has clarified that there is currently no provision for any wage increase for workers in the state to offset the impact of the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government. The state Commissioner for Finance, Ashiru Idris, made this statement during a citizens’ engagement event in Lokoja, the state capital.
The commissioner emphasized that the state government has not allocated funds for such wage awards at the moment. He highlighted that the focus of the government is on creating an enabling environment for workers by providing social amenities and infrastructural facilities to improve the overall well-being of the people.
However, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Gabriel Amari, contradicted this statement, mentioning that the governor had assured them of a consultative meeting after the election to discuss their request for a wage increase. Amari expressed the need to hear directly from the governor before making further comments.
On a related note, during the citizens’ engagement, the Chairperson of the Kogi NGOs Network, Ambassador Idris Ozovehe Muraina, called for the enactment of budget transparency laws to ensure the right to access budget information. He also advocated for the strengthening of institutional capacity to enhance effective budget management and reporting.