The Chief Of Staff To Kogi State Government, Pharm. Abdulkareem Asuku gave the assurance when the Kogi State Association of Persons Living With Disabilities (KOSAPLWDs) paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the Government House.
The meeting started at the late hours of Tuesday with prayers from both Muslim and Christian faith by Alh. Bello Jubril and Pastor Abu Ojoshu respectively, they prayed fervently for more success and achievement of Governor Yahaya Bello during his second term.
Chief Abdullahi T. Muhammed, the chairman of Appointment Nomination and Follow-Up Committee, who spoke on behalf of the association made known to the Chief of Staff that the emergence of His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello on the just concluded election was not luck but based on merit.
He went further to state that the committee with collaboration with the entire member of the association has decided to present a consensus candidate to be absorbed into the GYB-led next cabinet. The association’s chairman Comr. Ibrahim Daniel Arome , who he described as “trustworthy, transparent and all inclusive” should be considered for any appointment for the community.
Chief Abdullahi T. Muhammed also lauded the Governor for appointing Hon Hassan Ahmodu into his cabinet. He described it as a show of love and concern to the community. However, he bemoaned the lack of impact of Hon Hassan Ahmodu. Chief Abdullahi described Hon Ahmodu’s tenure as a “colossal waste” and therefore reject his candidacy to be returned into the next cabinet.
Chief Abdullahi expressed satisfaction with the present APC led government in the state and federal levels and the commitment of government to the welfare of the physically challenged, also promised to mobilize its members for continuous support for the party in view of the humane disposition of the party towards them.
The Chief Of Staff, Pharm. Abdulkareem Asuku in his remark thanked the association for throwing their weight behind the Governor in his second term bid. He went further to explain that there is ability in disability and also assured the association that His Excellency would key into the State governments policy of meeting the needs of the physically challenged in the society, stressing that they should not hesitate to come to him for any form of assistance they may have need for.
In a response to their demand, Pharm. Asuku assured them that Governor Yahaya Bello has pledged to tackle issues of discrimination meted on People Living With Disabilities, PLWDs in Kogi state, and of inclusion into the next cabinet, noting that already made laws would be rigorously implemented to ensure such.
of Government House in Lokoja on Monday.
He called for support and understanding of citizens to ensure his administration block all tax loopholes so it can generate needed revenue to finance the lofty goals set to improve the lives of the people.
Governor Bello expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in
“We have three states that are yet to commence anything. We have Cross River, Kogi and Taraba states. These states are yet to even constitute the negotiating committee and these three states have not shown enough commitment to actually start the process of negotiating and implementing the minimum wage.
“We are actually on track. The federal government has set the pace. They have been able to meet up with all the obligations, including payment of arrears. Let us also not lose sight of the fact that from the day the president assented to the bill, it became law. Therefore, states have no reason not to respect a law that was enacted.
“We insist on the process of collective bargaining because we don’t want an allocation of peanuts to workers. The principle of collective bargaining is enshrined in international law that workers should be able to know what they will be paid because the N30,000 is already a law. What we are discussing is the consequential adjustment.
“That is why the unions are interested in looking at the details before they sign. Some (states) will want to pay peanut and that is what we are trying to avoid,” he said.
