KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE DILEMMA OF EX-POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDER UNDER WADA ADMINISTRATION
KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE DILEMMA OF EX-POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDER UNDER WADA ADMINISTRATION
Kogi State Government says it has cleared a debt of N98.8 billion in the last 15 months under the administration of Alhaji Usman Ododo, governor of the state.
Asiwaju Idris, the Kogi commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, announced the development in Lokoja during a press briefing held after the state executive council meeting.
Idris noted that the liquidated debt, inherited by the state government, included N8 billion in bonds from the former Idris Wada administration and N50.8 billion in salary bailouts during the tenure of former governor Yahaya Bello.
He said the state government cleared a N10 billion ECA-backed infrastructure loan, N15 billion infrastructure loans from Zenith Bank, and another N15 billion from UBA Plc.
*REASON FOR THE ₦50.08 BILLION BAILOUT FUND*
Capt. Idris Wada was governor of Kogi State between 2012-2016 and his tenure witnessed rapid growth and development of the state.
However, towards the end of his administration, he was faced with the challenge of paying workers salaries (Both at the State and Local Government levels) and this made him to apply for ₦50.08 billion bailout fund from the federal Government but unfortunately, he could not access the bailout Fund before he left office in 2016.
Alhaji yahaya Bello succeeded Capt Idris Wada as governor of Kogi State and he was lucky to receive the ₦50.08 billion bailout fund. Governor Yahaya Bello promised to utilise the bailout fund for the purpose it was requested for (payment of outstanding workers salaries in Kogi State)
Lo and behold, Governor Yahaya Bello only approved the payment of One month salary out of the Four months outstanding salaries in all his 8 years in office.
Ironically, the payment of the approved One month salary came during the kogi governorship election campaign in the state and the support for the APC candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo by the Forum of Ex-Political appointees under Wada’s Administration was overwhelming. The Forum even registered as a Support Group with *ODODO/JOEL GOVERNORSHIP CAMPAIGN COUNCIL* and directed their members to vote for APC during the Election.
*THE DILEMMA OF EX-POLITICAL APPOINTEES*
Since the Kogi State commissioner for Finance has announced the repayment of all the LOANS/BAILOUT FUNDS collected after Wada’s Administration, one is expected that the purpose for which the said Bailout Fund was requested for should have been met.
Surprisingly, the outstanding salaries are yet to be fully paid. As at today, Kogi State government is still owing Ex-Political Appointees Three months salaries, including severance packages.
The question begging for answer is how can the state government claimed to have paid back all the Bailout Fund collected to pay salaries and yet still owing Ex-Political Appointees for whom the bailout fund was requested for?
It is almost Ten years ago that Capt Idris Wada left office and Political Appointees who served the state are left to die in hunger.
Several appeals has gone to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to please consider the plight of the Ex-Political office holders and order the payment of their outstanding salaries but nothing has been done.
