KOGI GOVERNOR CLAIMS LABOUR CONGRESS AND TUC TRYING TO PITCH THE PEOPLE OF AGAINST HIM(NOBODY LOVES YOU BELLO)

YAHAYA BELLO OF KOGI STATE

The Governor of Kogi State has said the leaders of Labour unions in the state are out pitch the people against him over allegations of unpaid salaries.

According to him, leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) are out to “misinform the people for selfish reasons”.

Speaking to journalists at Lokoja on Sunday, the Director General on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo urged workers to continue to go to their work places in order to serve the people of the state.

He said, “Labour leaders in the state have been attempting to denigrate the integrity of the State Government by creating a false impression of non-payment of salaries despite our decision to publish all the payments to civil servants in the state in various media, including the state website.
“We urge the organized Labour to rescind their decision and call off the ill-fated strike in the interest of the good people of the state.

“Kogi State Government is owing August salary as well as half of July which will be paid as soon as possible. It is our desire that Labour embraces industrial peace and resist the temptation of throwing the State into tension.

“We frown at the forceful execution of the strike and urge Labour leaders to reconsider their stance instead of attacking workers who intend to earn their pay. The refusal of many civil servants to heed the call for strike is enough incentive to reverse the unpopular decision”.
Fanwo said government will remain committed to the welfare of civil servants in the state, insisting that “those who work will be paid their salaries.

“The impression they want to create about Kogi is fake, false and misleading. It is a political attempt at distracting government from its lofty initiatives of developing the state.
“We will remain unfazed in combating corruption in the state. Inducing Labour to destabilize the state will not save those who blindly stole from our commonwealth from returning their loot.

“We have been paying workers salaries and shall continue to do so. Labour should reciprocate our gesture by acting with patriotism. Those pushing Labour to battle with government have no interest of our state at heart”.

He said government will henceforth, “apply relevant laws to stabilize the system and ensure the state enjoys industrial peace”.