Wage Award: Kogi Govt Says No Salary Increase For Workers

The Kogi State Government has asserted that there is no allocation for additional wages to mitigate the impact of the Federal Government’s fuel subsidy removal on state workers. Ashiru Idris, the Commissioner for Finance, emphasized this during discussions with journalists in Lokoja on Tuesday, coinciding with citizens’ engagement in the 2024 budget formulation.

Idris clarified, “Given the relatively higher salary structure of the state civil service compared to most states, there’s no provision for extra awards to civil servants in the budget. Our focus is on creating a conducive environment for workers through social amenities and infrastructure.”

Contrary to this, Gabriel Amari, the State NLC Chairman, disputed the commissioner’s statement, citing correspondence with the government. Amari mentioned a letter sent by organized labor, claiming the governor committed to discussing their concerns post-election. He stated, “I’ll reserve my comments until I hear directly from the governor.”

Earlier, Ambassador Idris Ozovehe Muraina of the Kogi NGOs Network urged the enactment of budget transparency laws, emphasizing the importance of a legal framework for access to budget information and accountability. He also called for enhanced institutional capacity in managing and reporting budgets.