Short Profile of His Excellency, The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward David Onoja (CIK):

Edward David Unekwuojo Onoja was born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Amodu Onoja on the 9th of August, 1974. His alma-nature is Odidoko-Emonyoku in Ogugu District of Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He started his early academic sojourn (Primary School) in Lagos state and maintained as one of the top graduating pupil until completion. Consequent upon his intellectual proficiency, the young Edward Onoja was interviewed and passed his examinations into Federal Government College, Kwali, Abuja, FCT in 1985.
Edward Onoja sustained his academic prowess through secondary school finishing from FGC Kwali with an excellent result in 1991.

He then proceeded to the University of Jos to study Geology and Mining, graduated in 1999 with a Second Class (Upper Division) Degree in 1999 and invariably was one of the top graduating students in his class.

Edward Onoja’s excellence in academics must not be mistaken to mean that he was a bookworm who did nothing else but read in school. On the contrary, he was an all-rounder of a student who also excelled in sports, clubs, student unionism and sundry other extracurricular activities. He was an active member of the National Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the student representative for the Society of Exploration Geophysics (SEG).

It is easy to spot the chick which will grow into a cock right from infancy by its carriage and command among its peers. Edward Onoja was one of the founders and the pioneer President of Natural Science Students Association (NASSA), University of Jos Chapter. Edward broke a jinx in the University of Jos which has persisted from the very beginning of student Unionism in the institution when he singlehandedly installed the first Student Union (SUG) President from the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

He did not contest himself, but finding a suitable candidate he believed in, coincidentally a fellow Igala, he presented him to the student community, then leveraged his own resources, personality and popularity to campaign for him. His candidate defeated all comers to emerge the SUG President of Unijos that year. That record stands till date.

Work Place Experience

With a 20 year work experience out of his 45 years on earth, he has worked at Guarantee Trust Bank Nigeria (GTBANk), Access Bank Nigeria, Televeras Group of Companies (Oil and Gas) and his own personal merchandise. Summarily, criss-crossing Banking, Oil and Gas, Entrepreneurship and Politics.

In details, upon graduation, Edward Onoja proceeded for the one year compulsory National Youth Service Corps programme at Port Harcourt. He scaled through the highly competitive rigors of interviewing for a place with Total Fina-ELF Petroleum Nigeria Limited and succeeded as usual. Our man served with his customary excellence in the Exploration Department of the multinational organisation as a Trainee Geologist and Subsurface Engineering Personnel.

The experience kindled Edward’s interest in the oil and gas sector, particularly the role of Nigerians in the Nigerian energy market. As we shall see later, he would return to that original interest to carve out a distinguished career for himself.
However, after completing the one year mandatory youth service, he cross-carpeted to the banking industry, starting with Guaranty Trust Bank in 2001.

Edward was sent to the premier bank’s Training School in Lagos where he again graduated top of the class and won a prize for his efforts. He was then posted to Guaranty Trust Bank, Jos Branch as a Customer Service Officer where he played ample roles at both administrative and management levels.

A year and 11 months after joining GTB, Edward Onoja was promoted to Operations Manager and posted to a new Branch opening in Makurdi, Benue State. Edward Onoja’s background in the sciences helped him to bring innovation and new skills to bear on every posting job, helping him and his team-mates to break new grounds. With the new Makurdi Branch up and flourishing in no time at all, Edward’s employers identified him as a useful man for setting up new branches. In rapid succession, they moved him around to set up GT Bank branches in Lokoja, Obajana, Okene and Lafia.

Soon, he was not just an Operations Manager but was saddled with the responsibilities of Training Officer for the whole of Northern Nigeria (on-the-job weekly training). In 2009, Edward was head-hunted for his competencies by GTB’s arch-rival, Access Bank Plc, and upon coming to agreeable terms, he resumed as the Branch cum Relationship Manager at Lokoja Branch of Access Bank where he handled both the commercial and corporate banking groups of the bank. His duties included analysis of the investment profiles of the bank’s numerous portfolio.

In Access Bank, he raised the balance sheet from less than 30 million when he came on board to over half a billion naira in 9 months, a feat which prompted his promotion from the Lokoja Branch to the much bigger Asokoro Branch in Abuja, again, as a Relationship Manager.

In June of 2011 Edward, drawn by the allure of Politics, Entrepreneurship and Private Enterprise departed the banking industry and founded On and On Global Resources Limited. The fresh start-up, buoyed by Edward’s industry and restless acumen, plunged into the shark-infested waters of Financial Consulting. He soon carved a niche for himself consulting on risked financial investments in general and the power and energy sectors in particular.

In July 2013, Edward, whose profile and exploits as a private Consultant had been steadily climbing, attracted the attention of the Taleveras Group, an Oil and Gas industry stalwart in Nigeria. He was subsequently engaged as the General Manager, (GM), Exploration and Production in the Taleveras Exploration and Production Company Limited.

At Taleveras, Edward excelled again. He helped to build a strong Exploration and Production arm for the Taleveras Group and managed the Group’s International and Domestic Partnerships. He also helped to develop and set up the optimum cash-call threshold which is still in use by the company. Edward Onoja’s schedules at Taleveras thrust him into international waters and deepened his experience as a multidisciplinary deal maker and international transactions broker. As the Taleveras Group’s representative charged with reviewing Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) in all her assets around the world, Edward travelled the globe and participated in high level negotiations in nearly all the continents of the globe.

At home, Edward also had intensive exposure to the inner workings of the Oil and Gas Sector in the Federal Republic of Nigeria – often at Senior Executive levels. He was therefore deployed to manage Taleveras’ relationships with the National Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) on shared assets. Again, Edward brought his potent mix of cutting-edge technical expertise and enhanced people skills to the table and achieved great success.

This led to his appointment as the Commercial Representative on an NPDC/Taleveras/Others Management Committee for a Joint Asset. Edward was part of the team of experts tasked with overseeing the exploration of 3 Oil Blocks in Ivory Coast as well as a Gas Terminal contract in Equatorial Guinea.
Edward’s employers at Taleveras were no doubt impressed with his sterling accomplishments because they elevated him to the position of Director, Exploration & Production in January 2015. His duties on the domestic scene often ran concurrently with his international responsibilities. Through it all, Edward was able to acquire in-depth knowledge of the sector, and has developed customized solutions on how Nigeria can move her Oil and Gas industry to the next level.

POLITICAL FORAY

As a private citizen Edward Onoja developed an almost insatiable passion to see and live in a better and greater Nigeria. He desperately looked for a Leader who had the qualities to build and bequeath such a Nigeria to the next generation.
In June and July, 2010, Edward driven by said passion galvanized some of his friends in the financial sector and they sought audience in Kaduna with President Muhammadu Buhari, then of the Congress for Progressive Change, at which Edward proposed a Project 50-50-50 to actualize his ambition.
Although President Muhammadu Buhari was unsuccessful in the 2011 Presidential Elections, he gained lifelong disciples in Edward and his friends who saw in him the leader who will achieve Nigeria’s rebirth.

In the build-up to the 2015 Presidential Elections, Edward became Project Director of the Kogi Youths Arise Group (KYAG) under the Chairmanship and Sponsorship of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, now the 4th Executive Governor of Kogi State.

The group mobilized thousands of Youths to campaign for the Change Agenda of the APC in Kogi State and beyond. They were instrumental in delivering the State for the APC, which contributed in no small measure to the ultimate victory of their mentor and role model, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Later that same year, Edward became Head of Campaigns and Chief Strategist for the Alhaji Yahaya Bello Campaign Organization. He led a team of hitherto unknown, but equally passionate, youngsters into all the nooks and crannies of Kogi State canvassing for his candidate. The rest is history. The APC defeated an incumbent PDP Governor to make Yahaya Bello the 4th Executive Governor of Kogi State. Edward Onoja currently serves as Chief of Staff to His Excellency.

Edward Onoja was appointed the Director-General, APC Campaigns for the 2019 General Elections in Kogi State. He discharged that assignment with unprecedented results. The APC won 25 out of the 25 state constituency Assembly seats in Kogi State. The party also won seven (7) out of the nine (9) federal constituency seats in the state and 2 out of the 3 senate seats. Based on the recent ruling of the elections tribunals nullifying the only Senate seat lost by the APC, it does appear that Edward Onoja made a clean sweep of all 3 Senatorial seats in Kogi State.

Edward again returns as the running mate to Alhaji Yahaya Bello of APC for the 2019 Kogi State Gubernatorial Elections on November 16th. No doubt, this incredible young man will shock his opponents again. For those of you who might not know, be informed that prior to playing such pivotal roles in the Victories of General Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Yahaya Bello in their respective polls, Edward, soon after he left Access Bank in 2011, ran for the Olamaboro LGA seat in the Kogi State House of Assembly as candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) for State House of Assembly.
He was also the State Coordinator, Project 3R (Rescue, Restore and Rebuild) for Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for the Kogi State Governorship Election also in that year.
These diverse political overtures and experiences imparted him with the hands-on experience which currently serves him well in handling difficult political situations.

THE SPIRITUALITY OF EDWARD ONOJA

Edward Onoja is an unrepentant believer in The Trinity, ie, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
He believes in Jesus Christ as the Saviour who died to save mankind and though an imperfect man still, he strives to become more Christ-like daily.
Edward Onoja professes membership of the spiritual-priestly and kingly ORDER OF THE MELCHIZEDEK BROTHERHOOD as detailed in the Bible at Hebrews Chapter 7, Psalms 110:4 and Genesis 14:18-20.
It is a brotherhood whose creed is LOVE; whose weapon is the WORD; whose defense is the NAME THAT IS HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER NAME – JESUS; whose emblem is the CROSS of Calvary.
It is a brotherhood which believes that there is a better and greater world than the one in which we live today.
Edward Onoja considers himself a joint heir with Jesus the King of kings to the manifold riches of God.
Edward’s membership of the mysterious brotherhood accounts for why he fears no human being, no matter how highly placed. He believes that humans, no matter how highly placed, can only hurt the body but not the soul, and must not be feared.

To Edward, in the final analysis, we shall all return to the dust from where we came so he walks in grace and mercy. He is not perfect, but believes so much in the power of that Blood which speaks better and greater things than even the loquacious blood of Abel – the Blood of Jesus.

EDWARD ONOJA’S PHILOSOPHY
Honourable Edward Onoja believes in the equality of all men under God.
He believes that Nigeria can, and will get better including Kogi State.
He has a firm belief in the youths as the catalysts for a new Nigeria and has always affirmed that the time has come for the youths of Nigeria to take their place in the governance of our nation.
Honourable Edward Onoja does not easily align himself to causes but once he does, he is ready to DIE for his beliefs. This is an attribute which is on practical demonstration in Kogi State daily as Edward stands by his boss and friend, Governor Yahaya Bello through thick and thin.

HIS FAMILY
Edward Onoja belongs to a family of 7 siblings with both parents alive, hale and hearty. He is happily married to Mrs Mercy Ejura Onoja (Née Okee), and blessed with 3 children.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP
While operating in the financial sphere, Edward Onoja set up a Barber’s shop (Hally’s Place) which redefines luxury in the men’s grooming business in Kogi State. He quickly grew it from the one outlet with just 2 staffers to 5 outlets with 14 staffers.

PHILANTHROPY
To say the least, Edward Onoja is a mentor to many young Nigerians and Kogites.

Through his personal enterprise Edward Onoja has helped 8 young persons through tertiary institution – 7 males and 1 female who who are now graduates of Law.
Since he became Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, many of our children in Kogi East have enjoyed Edward Onoja’s personal scholarships and that of the government he serves.
He has empowered countless artisans among us with money or machinery, including vehicles and motorcycles, including start up capital to start l businesses ,thus, enhancing their standard of living.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVELS
By God’s grace, Edward Onoja has traveled round the 5 of the 6 continents of the world.

A TRUE SON AND LOVER OF IGALA LAND AND KOGI STATE

From his earliest youth Edward Onoja has amply demonstrated his love for his Igala land and people.
As a student he used his time, energy, network and resources to assist Hosea Onuche from Ankpa a Chemistry Student Of Natural Science Faculty, where Edward was Faculty President to become President of the Student Union Government of University of Jos Nigeria, (Unijos).

In the banking sector he helped countless Kogi citizens including his Principal and others access funds for personal and business purposes.
He was instrumental in giving several Kogi citizens the opportunity to serve and work in the financial world in different capacities over the years till date.

He used his positions throughout his professional life to facilitate assistance he could muster for many of his Igala brethren and other Citizens of Kogi.
As Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Edward Onoja has facilitated high-ranking appointments for hundreds of Igala sons and daughters and other Kogites in government, both federal and state levels.

He has used the office and the goodwill of his boss to facilitate thousands of civil service jobs for persons of Igala nationality and other ethnic groups in the state at federal, state and local government levels.
Through Edward Onoja’s good offices hundreds of other Igala sons and daughters and other Kogi indigenes have been fixed into dignified employments in the private sector.
Hundreds of indigent Igalas with life-threatening ailments and no money have been treated with miIllions and millions of Naira by the good offices of Edward Onoja and his boss.

Vehicles have been donated to many elders and community leaders in Igala land who have been long forgotten. Scores of them are serving as salaried members of the Elders Advisory Councils in their constituencies, thus enjoying a new lease of life.
Our paramount ruler and father, the Attah of All Igala, continues to receive the full compliment of his royal respect and entitlements as the Chairman of the Kogi State Council of Traditional Rulers from Edward Onoja and our amiable Governor, His Excellency, Yahaya Bello.

Many of our Chiefs have been upgraded in status and empowered with vehicles and other befitting paraphernalia of their offices.

Edward has helped to attract many infrastructural developments to Igala land which we can all attest to.
Across Igala land, from Dekina to Ankpa to Idah to Olamaboro to Omala to Igalamela/Odolu to Ofu to Ibaji there are scores of ongoing or completed roads, schools, health centres, bridges, erosion management sites, electricity and water projects which have the fingerprint of Edward Onoja on them.

Even as we speak, the big one is coming. Edward Onoja is Chairman of the Project Light Up Kogi East (PLUKE) which the Governor inaugurated the day he came to commission our Igala Unity House. Edward has re-echoed the Governor’s promise that by December 2019, at least 200 communities in Igala land will be connected or on the way to being connected to the national grid.

Under the same canopy of responsibility to the Igala race, he has galvanized efforts to build two Guest Houses in Anyigba and Ankpa respectively for the apex father of the Igala race, His Royal Majesty, the Attah Igala, which is to help him to palatial rest and access to his children as he travels round his kingdom.

Edward Onoja came to office determined that the gathering place of his tribe which lay in ruins like the Walls of Jerusalem in the Bible must be rebuilt. In just one year, he and his friends, in conjunction with ICDA, gave us an Igala Unity House which is today the cynosure of all eyes. The shame which all Governors of Igala extraction refused to wipe from our face has been wiped away by a lowly Chief of Staff who has been elevated to become the Deputy Governor of Kogi state.

Before the Igala Unity House, Edward as an advocate of interfaith harmony has helped to build the Central Mosque and the United Evangelical Church, both in Okpo.
Edward has also donated over 10 evangelism buses to Christian denominations and clergymen in Igala land.

No part of Igala land and society has remained untouched by Edward Onoja’s positive impact as a functionary in the government of the day in Kogi State.

Generally, as an arrowhead of the New Direction Administration of Governor Yahaya Bello, Edward Onoja through humble and faithful service to his boss has earned plenty of goodwill with the Governor which he deploys to ensure that Igala land and Kogi by extension is not short-changed in the only democratic government so far which does not have an Igala man as governor.

Truly, we cannot exhaust the great deeds which this young man, Edward Onoja, has jammed into his life. Let us stop here and just thank God that in our time and age, such a brilliant star rose over the skies in Igala.
Let us celebrate Edward Onoja as a true son of the Kogi soil on this auspicious day and pray that others who may come after him from our land will have the same heart to do for us even half of the things that he has done and will yet do.
Ladies and gentlemen, assembled friends from far and near, I give you the indefatigable, ebullient, brilliant and celebrated Edward Onoja, Commander of the Igala Kingdom (CIK) and Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Nigeria.

~ Promise Emmanuel (Kogi Rebel).

The former Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Hon. Edward Onoja has just been sworn in by Kogi State Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah at Banquet Hall, Government House, Kogi State.

The former Deputy Governor, Elder Simon Achuba was removed by the Kogi State House of Assembly on the 18th of October, 2019 on allegations bordering on “gross misconduct” as revealed by the state assembly.

~ Kogi Rebel reporting

Based on the above, the Public Accounts Committee extended invitations to the Chief Judge and the Chief Registrar thrice to appear before the Committee but they refused to show up or even acknowledge the invites. The Public Accounts Committee saw their refusal to appear as an affront to the authority of the Committee and indeed the House of Assembly as well as a ploy to avoid answering for the various infractions discovered.
The Committee deemed the conduct of both principal officers of the Kogi State Judiciary to amount to gross misconduct. The Committee therefore concluded her assignment and recommended to the House of Assembly that the Chief Judge be removed from office for gross misconduct or be asked to step aside. The Chief Registrar on his part was referred to the State Judicial Service Commission which appointed him for appropriate disciplinary actions.I wanna the
Thereafter the Kogi State House of Assembly pursuant to the recommendations of the House Committee on Public Accounts and pursuant to its powers under Section 292 (1) (a) II of the Constitution at its sitting of 2nd April, 2019 adopted the report of its Public Accounts Committee and by an address supported by two thirds majority of the Kogi State House of Assembly recommended to the Governor that the Chief Judge of Kogi State be removed from office for Gross Misconduct.
The Chief Registrar was referred to the State Judicial Service Commission for disciplinary actions while it was directed that the Salaries of Judicial Workers be paid immediately.
The Governor has since communicated the receipt of the address from the House of Assembly to the National Judicial Council and awaits their response. The State Government has however not been able to proceed to pay judicial staff as the Chief Judge and the Chief Registrar have refused to release the payroll necessary to commence the exercise till now. The Governor has at different fora appealed to the Chief Judge, the Chief Registrar and JUSUN to co-operate with the Executive and commence the exercise to enable workers whose salaries sit idly in the bank to access same. So far those pleas have been rebuffed/ignored.
The Chief Judge and the Chief Registrar upon receipt of the news of the House of Assembly’s resolution rushed to their ‘personal’ Court again on 5th April, 2019 to file a Motion asking the Court to nullify the resolution of the House of Assembly praying for removal of the Chief Judge and disciplinary actions against the Chief Registrar. Their reasons for the Motion was that the House of Assembly’s resolution was made during the pendency of their suit and secondly that there was an extant order restraining the Defendants including the House of Assembly from interfering in any way detrimental to the office of the Chief Judge and the Chief Registrar. Surprisingly, a Court which was said to be indisposed and had as a result imposed the 28th day of April, 2019 on parties and declaring same as sacrosanct suddenly fixed the Claimants’ Motion for the 12th day of April, 2019.
Upon hearing of the continued sitting of the Koton Karfe Court during the strike, aggrieved workers who now knew that it was the Chief Judge, the Chief Registrar and their JUSUN State Executives who were behind their inability to receive salaries thronged the Koton Karfe Court in the morning of the 12th April, 2019. They carried placards, chanting war songs and insisting that no Court would sit until their salaries were paid. The protests soon turned violent as Protesters started burning tires and planks with a threat to burn down the Court. It took Government’s intervention to get the Police and DSS to the Court and secure the premises and the judge. The Protesters were eventually dispersed, however some still lurked around with a promise to mobilize more members to ensure that the Court does not sit. With the intervention of the Police, the Court was able to sit and transact the business of the day. Justice Omolaye-Ajileye even attempted to give the ruling after a 2-hour stand-down. However, towards the tail end of the sitting, the protesters became restive again and started thronging the Court. With most of the DSS and some of the Policemen gone, and with the small detachment left behind in danger of being overrun, they advised the Judge, Court staff and lawyers to leave the premises. The Judge quietly left the premises without even informing the lawyers who were waiting on His Lordship. Court Staff later made it known that Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye had left the Court.
Before long, it was all over the news that the Police vacated the court premises on ‘orders from above’, which is far from the case. The same erroneous insinuation was made on TVC’s Journalist Hangout. It was stated that the Governor was using the House of Assembly to remove the Chief Judge at all cost. In all of this, beyond minuting the resolutions of the House to the NJC, the Governor has taken no steps whatsoever in either direction, whether for or against.
Firstly, it is the contention of the House of Assembly and other Defendants before the Court that the subject matter of the suit was a call by the executive to intervene to enable judicial staff participate in the table payment exercise whereupon the Chief Judge of Kogi and the Chief Registrar, as Claimants, procured an injunction preventing the House from further acting thereon upon which they had so ceased to act. The House insists that whereas their present resolution was based on the exercise of their constitutional duties of oversight and investigation of any person as to compliance with the appropriation laws and financial regulations of the state in the use of monies appropriated by the House of Assembly.
Secondly, the Kogi State House of Assembly is of the view that in the unlikely event that the Court held that the subject matter of the current suit before them was same with that which led to the resolution of the House removing the Chief Judge, the interim orders of injunction granted on the 13th day of December, 2018 and extended on the 18th day of December, 2018 had elapsed by virtue of Order 11 Rule 10 (2) of the Rules of the Kogi State High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2006. That rule provides that an order of interim injunction granted via an ex parte application will last for a period of 7 days while any extension of same would also lapse 7 days thereafter. It therefore follows that as of the 25th day of December, 2018 there was no order of any Court preventing the Kogi State House of Assembly from taking any steps regarding the Chief Judge and Chief Registrar.
Coming away from all the legalese, it is clear that:
1. There is no personal battle/problem between the Chief Judge of Kogi State and the Governor of Kogi State as is been insinuated.
2. The alleged rift between the Executive and the Judiciary does not exist in fact but same is a contrivance of the Chief Judge and the Chief Registrar.
3. Most Judges in Kogi State can attest to the deep respect and atmosphere of conviviality which the Executive Governor of Kogi State has created for the discharge of their judicial duties.
4. The Chief Judge and the Chief Registrar do not want to be accountable to any other organ of Government contrary to the principles of checks and balances.
5. The Executive is only insisting on the table payment exercise for payment of salaries of only a few months to judicial staff while other months are paid to the heads of Courts for disbursement to workers via their accounts.
6. The Exercise is to ensure transparency, accountability and probity.
7. The exercise does not in any way impinge on the independence of the Judiciary but is in keeping with the doctrine of checks and balances.
8. It is the Chief Judge of Kogi State, the Chief Registrar and the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, Kogi State Branch who are preventing the payment of salaries of Judicial Staff.
9. This state of affairs deprives not only judicial staff their salaries but also deprives Lawyers their livelihood, litigants their claims, Prisoners their freedom and poses a great threat to the administration of criminal justice system in Kogi State.
I pray that wisdom prevails and the Chief Registrar who is the Chief Accounting Officer of the Court take steps to ensure that the Table Payment exercise is carried out as soon as possible.

Kingsley Fanwo
Director General of Media and Publicity to the Governor of Kogi State

Find full article in comment section:

NON-PAYMENT OF SALARIES OF JUDICIARY STAFF IN KOGI STATE: THE TRUE STATE OF AFFAIRS.
I watched a very popular programme titled ‘Journalist Hangout’ on TVC, a respected Television News Station on DSTV on 15th April, 2019. The topic of discussion on the programme was the non-payment of salaries to Judiciary Staff in Kogi State and the alleged attempt by the Executive to remove the Chief Judge of the State. Discussants on the programme stated amongst other things that the non-payment of staff in the Judiciary in Kogi State started in June, 2018 when the Chief Judge of Kogi State granted bail to Senator Dino Melaye in a criminal case before him, against the alleged wishes of the Governor of Kogi State. It was argued and concluded on the programme that if Kogi State Civil Servants working in the Judiciary are asked by the Executive to collect a few months’ salary via cheques, it offends the doctrines of the independence of the judiciary and separation of powers!
Apart from the discussion on this programme, a lot of wild stories regarding the Kogi State Judiciary and the alleged role of the Executive in the crisis into which the Judiciary plunged itself in the State have also been circulating on social media platforms. It is against this backdrop that I try to address the apparent misinformation and maybe lack of information on this matter.
When the Government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello came into office on the 27th day of January, 2016 it identified 5 thematic areas for special focus. One of them was Public Service and Pension Reforms. The Public Service and Pension reforms began with a screening exercise which though arduous has been hailed as successful in exposing waste, corruption (Ghost Worker Syndrome), Certificate forgery and inefficiency in the Kogi State Public Service. While Staff in the Executive and Legislative arms participated in the Screening exercise the Governor upon assurances by the Chief Judge that the Judiciary regularly carry out its internal screening, excluded it from the screening exercise. This is verifiable.
The administration has not only steered clear of the Judiciary in the matters of its independence but has bent over backwards to promote same. Since the administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the judiciary has also benefited from the resources of the state as follows:
1. Purchase of 13 Brand New Prado Jeeps for Judges of the High Court and a Toyota Land Cruiser V6 for the Chief Judge.
2. Tarring of all internal roads and creation of befitting car parks and environment within the Headquarters of the Kogi State High Court Complex.
3. Payment of Monthly Security Allowances of N200,000.00 to Judges of the High Court of Kogi State.
4. Regular release of Subvention to the Judiciary.
5. Renovation of the Chief Judge’s Court for the first ever Court of Appeal’s special Court sessions in Lokoja.
6. Payment of about 65 Million Naira for the Chief Judge’s medical expenses.
7. Conference allowances for Judges.
All these were done inspite of paucity of funds in Kogi State and inspite of other pressing and competing financial demands from other areas of governance in Kogi State.

2.
Desirous of building on the gains made from the screening exercise, Government and organised labour in Kogi State, specifically the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) continued to express worry over the size of the State’s wage bill which was effectively eating up and sometimes overshooting the State’s Monthly Federal Allocations. Government and Labour therefore continued to dialogue on ways to monitor the disbursement of salaries with the aim of eradicating leakages wherever found.
Prior to the then imminent disbursement of the 2nd Tranche of Kogi State’s share of the Paris Club Refund, the NLC, TUC and the Public Service Joint Negotiating Council (PSJNC) agreed with the Government on what percentage of the expected sum should be used in paying salaries and the modalities for the disbursement. It was agreed that salaries payments from the funds be made via a pay parade/table payment exercise across board. This was to enable parties monitor the disbursement of the funds and also help to deepen verification of the current staff strength/wage bill. Further to the above agreement, Government approved that the table payment exercise proceed simultaneously with a Biometric Data Capture and Enrolment of Public Servants. The Pay Parade/Table Payment exercise approved therefore meant that a Public Servant (excluding the Judges whose salaries/allowances are paid by the National Judicial Council ‘NJC’) will physically present himself to the Payer (a joint committee of consultants, Management Staff of the concerned arm of Government and representatives of government and organised labour respectively). Public servants were to present themselves at their place of work and physically collect their several months pay via cheques, while their Biometric data are simultaneously captured for the digitisation process.
The exercise commenced with State civil servants and workers in the Legislature and was later extended to Political office-holders including the Governor who presented himself before the joint committee for capturing. At the end of the exercise and till date, over 400 (Four Hundred) Workers did not show up to pick up their Cheques thereby saving the State, funds running into hundreds of millions of Naira which ordinarily would have gone into the hands of ghost workers or their proprietors.
An invitation was extended to the Judiciary for its participation in the Pay Parade/Table Payment Exercise. The Chief Judge of Kogi State whose salary is not paid by the State Government and who is not affected by the exercise, caused the Chief Registrar of the High Court to write a reply stating that the Judiciary will not participate in the exercise as it allegedly violated the principles of separation of powers and the independence of the Judiciary. The said invitation was never brought to the attention of the State Judicial Service Council (JSC), the executive body charged with the responsibility of appointing and exercising disciplinary control over the State’s judicial staff. While the JSC is chaired by the Chief Judge; heads of other Courts, the Attorney-General of the State, Lawyers and other members of unimpeachable integrity are members of the body. The Chief Judge and the Chief Registrar however constituted themselves into ‘the Judiciary’ in Kogi State and unilaterally decided that ‘the Judiciary’ would not particiPate.


3.in a State Government and Labour approved exercise.
One begins to wonder how the payment of Judiciary Staff via cheques (a purely administrative matter) coupled with Biometric capturing of State Judicial Workers for record and planning purposes impinges upon the independence of the judiciary or separation of powers. The Staff are State Workers appointed by the Judicial Service Commission (a body which by virtue of the Constitution is an Executive Body who may by approval of the Governor by rules or otherwise regulate its own proceedings: see S197 (1) & 204 of the 1999 Constitution).
Of important note is the fact that Table Payment across all the arms of Government in Kogi State is not strange, same having been carried out in Kogi State under the administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. Judiciary Staff including Magistrates participated in the exercise. Table Payment has also been done across the 3 arms of Government in some states of the Federation and the FCT without the Chief Judges in those States alleging infringement of judicial independence.
It is therefore curious that the Chief Judge of Kogi State and the Chief Registrar would gang up and blatantly refuse to participate in an exercise which is meant to ensure transparency, accountability and probity. It must also be noted that contrary to the fallacies been churned out to the public by their hirelings, table payment of workers of Public Servants does not in any way contravene any law or indeed the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Meanwhile, due to the hard stand of the Chief Judge, Public Servants in the Judiciary could or would not access their salaries. Consequently, the Kogi State chapter of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on 7th December, 2018 gave a notice of strike. JUSUN by their Notice of Strike stated that the Courts would be shut down indefinitely from Tuesday, 11th December, 2018. True to its words, JUSUN effectively shut down all Courts in Kogi State on the 11th day of December, 2018 as litigants, lawyers, judicial staff and Judges could neither access the Courts nor transact any official business.
With the turn of events, the seemingly helpless State Government requested the Legislature to ‘look into the matter and help provide guidance and the way forward’. The Kogi House of Assembly at its siting of 11th December, 2018 passed a resolution setting up an adhoc Committee of the House of Assembly to ‘look into the matter with a view to proffering amicable solution’ thereto.
Quite curiously and during the strike action, Justice Ajanah and the Chief Registrar, Alhaji Yahya Adamu, perhaps fearing that the adhoc committee would invite them and possibly prevail on them to participate in the exercise, took out Originating Summons and a Motion ex parte/Motion on Notice all dated 12th December, 2018 and approached the High Court, Koton Karfe Division seeking amongst other prayers orders of injunction restraining the adhoc committee of the House of Assembly, the Assembly, the Speaker and the State Government from interfering in any way detrimental to them in the discharge of their duties as the Chief Judge and Chief Registrar. They also sought an order restraining the House of Assembly, the Speaker and the Chairman of the Adhoc Committee set up by the House from taking pate cognizance of the report to be submitted by that Committee.


4.
On the same 12th December, 2018 while the strike was raging and the Kogi State Judiciary lay supine, the Motion Ex parte filed on the same date was said to have been heard and granted and an enrolled order dated 12/12/2018, signed and sealed under the hand of the presiding Judge, Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye issued. The Court granted the interim orders of injunction pending the determination of the Motion on Notice (1) restraining the Adhoc Committee of the House of Assembly and other parties from interfering in any way detrimental to them in the discharge of their duties as the Chief Judge and Chief Registrar, (2) restraining the House of Assembly, the Speaker and the Chairman of the Adhoc Committee set up by the House from taking cognizance of the report to be submitted by that Committee.
The Enrolled Order, the ruling which gave rise to the Enrolled Order, the Originating Summons and Motion on Notice were all served on parties on 14th December, 2018 however by the 13th day of December, 2018 Daily Trust and Vanguard Newspapers and other numerous online new sites had reported the grant of the injunction. Upon studying the court papers served on her, Government was shocked to discover on the face of the documents that while the Ruling which gave rise to the Enrolled Order was said to have been delivered on 13th December, 2018, the Enrolled Order (short form of the ruling containing the orders) which was signed under the hands and seal of the Judge was dated and signed on the 12th of December, 2018, a clear case of putting the cart before the horse!
It became clear that the principal actors in this comedy of errors had backdated the Order of the Court to ensure that any acts of the House of Assembly capable of ensuring that Public Servants in the Kogi State Judiciary receive their salaries at the earliest opportunity is frustrated. Despite the glaring abuse of the process of court and the irregularities inherent in the Orders and Ruling of the Court including the whole process of procuring the order during a Strike; the House of Assembly and indeed the Adhoc Committee set up by the House of Assembly stopped all actions geared towards achieving an amicable resolution of the issues.
At this point, it became clear to many including myself that the Chief Judge of Kogi State and Chief Registrar of the Kogi State High Court had something to hide with respect to the number of staff on the judiciary’s payroll and how much was indeed being utilised for their salaries. The duo do not believe they should be accountable to anyone for monies released to them for the payment of salaries and running of the Courts. It also became clear that the duo did not have the interest of the workers at heart as they continue to cling to their illogical interpretation of the provisions of the Law and the Constitution to deny the hardworking judicial staff of the State their wages.

5.Once again, Justice Omolaye-Ajileye, fully determined to forge ahead with these irregular proceedings, fixed the return date for the hearing of the Motion on Notice to 18th December, 2018 with the strike still on. On the 18th December, the Court sat with the full complement of the judiciary staff who were supposed to be on strike. The Court again sat on 4th February, 2019 in respect of the matter and adjourned same to 11th March, 2019. On 11th March, 2019 the Court was said to be indisposed hence the Registry imposed the 28th of April, 2019 on parties. The Defendants however were served with a Motion on Notice filed on 5th April, 2019 which was set down for hearing on 12th April, 2019. While the Court did actually sit on the said 12th April, 2019, we will discuss the events of that day much later in this piece.
It is important to note at this point that through all these adjournments and court sittings, the Court and indeed the Registry of the High Court were solidly shut to all other litigants and lawyers. The Chief Judge, the Chief Registrar and their lawyers are the only ones being served by the Kogi State Judiciary for nearly 6 months now. They approach the Court’s Registry at will to file papers while lawyers to the Defendants in the same matter have to wait till the morning when the matter is to come up for hearing because the Registry was not open to business within the normal work days and hours. I have never seen such a blatant and partisan use of the Court by a member of the Judiciary to achieve his personal and partisan goals.
Meanwhile, by virtue of Section 125(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) the Auditor General of the State is empowered to audit the accounts ‘of all offices and courts of the State’ and submit his reports to the House of Assembly who shall by its Public Accounts Committee consider the report (S 125(5)). By virtue of the foregoing, the Auditor General’s report for the year 2016 for the High Court of Kogi State and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government were submitted to the House of Assembly and considered by the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Assembly. The Committee by practice would invite officials of any court or visit any of the Courts, Ministries, Departments and Agencies where infractions of the Financial Regulations, Appropriation Law or other Laws are suspected with the aim of affording fair hearing before making recommendations to the House of Assembly.
For the High Court, the Audit Report showed that under the leadership of the Chief Judge and the Chief Registrar, severe irregularities were rife. For instance:
a. Cash withdrawal of over N137, 000,000.00 (One Hundred and Thirty Seven Million Naira) during the period under review in contravention of extant Financial Regulations.
b. Expending the Judiciary budget above the approved limits provided in some subheads to amounts running into several millions without approval of virement application.
c. Failure to deduct withholding tax from contracts awarded by the Court contrary to extant financial regulations.

Source: http://leaders.ng/buharis-re-election-in-kogi-state-how-gov-bello-stands/

These comrades are going to be snatching regrets from their indecision after February 19th, 2019. When President Muhammadu Buhari must have been re-elected, a massive political osmosis would be rushing plenty Kogi plastic Comrades, cosmetic-bellè-infrastructure politicians- lobbying assiduously to be on the side of the sitting Government, because, for more than the two decades of the creation of Kogi state, only the “political industry “ has been left to thrive, handed over also to Governor Yahaya Bello as the only legacy of governance.

If you’re not a learner, what other industry has thrived?

Civil Service? On a critically tested economic reality, for a nation that sits on a “capitalist” economy, sometimes a pretend of “mixed economic model,” is flung about, where demand and supply drives sales, a statement of intervening variables such as wits, education, individual creativity of citizens and creativity is put to test; something that determines who is wealthier and more successful in productivity. This economic model is what has placed names like Jeff Bezoz and Bill Gates on the global world map. In Africa, you have Aliko Dangote. All Economic Hit Men with high-powered social power, derived from their economic achievements.

But In Kogi State, you have just politicians who have looted the state like a mistrusting women being raped in an open market. Why won’t people say Civil Service and align it with “human development”? Because whilst people like Bill and Jeff made money from their capitalist businesses, Kogi Politicians killed every other form of businesses, created politics as their only business and stole the soul of Kogi in advance. The richest man in Kogi must be a politician. If not, what is the other thriving industry? In Nigeria, where do the indigenous business men of Kogi origin, doing business in Kogi state, stand?

It is now understandable why all the youths in Kogi would elect to study Political Science in our tertiary institutions, to turn out as politicians, whilst others pursued Public Administration, to serve in the Civil Service. This anomaly has been a generational mistake. A side-step of progress. A misnomer. A tragedy of monumental height.

By January 27th, Gov. Yahaya Bello would have completed three years in Government, jumping starting Governance in the Confluence state that has been dead for 25 years, with a 4 year interlude of brief nirvana from late Prince Abubakar Audu’s stewardship, which was truncated by egomaniacs of ethnic Agenda wickedness, who connived with the Civil Service Establishment, which is also a pseudo Political Party, which is the hydra-heeded cog in the wheel of progress in the state, that has collapsed forward moving progress for many years. Go to the economic books, the private sector in Kogi state has been dead, delivery nothing to more than the 4.3m estimated population of the people, whilst granting looting autonomy to politicians who perpetuate their cronies in different civil service ministries like the Pensions, Internal Board of Revenue, Agriculture, etc, constituting an establishment, pillaging the wealth of the people that should have been spread across other sectors of the state, especially “critical infrastructure”. While they do this, they saturate the Civil service wage bill with names of ghosts, linking the accounts to their individual pockets and also employing the state Government to pay their “Konji” fees for their mistresses that see to full scrotums every night.

It was a facade. They would pay stipends to an about 18,000 people they call civil servants and steal the other monies, creating and developing nothing but receive the people into backwardness.

Many projects are abandoned like bad attitudes after a youth turns Born Again. Many fantastic ideas in proposals are used to sell Akara at the old Government House environment that looked like Ukwo Market in Ugwalawo, a place a visitor may term as a “shrine” if they called on Kogi State. Thanks to younger Gov. Bello, we have a Government House without shame, now.

Amidst the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, tongues have predicted how Bello would lose the state to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar because Bello had performed woefully, not paying “salaries”. This line is a reverberation on the lips of some people, as we cannot blame them so much, the only growth that has been told and retold our people is to see the Civil Service and payment of salaries to less than 2% of Kogi population as the only form of development available. For example, the NBS economic statistics shows that a Governor who ruled the state for 9 years, raked in more than half a trillion naira allocation during his tenure, with 7B average monthly allocation minus the IGR, albeit, all he could boast of in his entire 8 years and 1 year jara tenure is upgrade of Kogi State University, payment of salaries, building of Kogi State Specialist Hospital, payment of WAEC Fees of some students and building of religious worship centers. But nobody has told them that in less than three years, Yahaya Bello built the multi billion naira Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue House. Completed the Kogi State Diagnostic Hospital. Refurbished, restructured and rebuilt the Kogi State Government House. Completed the Kogi State Transportation Dry Port-hub in Lokoja, Installed Street Lighting Across the state Capital, which was absent for more than 25 years of Kogi’s creation; cleaned the entire state capital from a reputation of “shrine” by retaining a contract State Cleaners. The political appointees of Gov. Bello now pay WAEC school fees, rather than the past which credit was given to a sitting Governor. The equilibrium in distribution of Appointive positions in Kogi State Under Governor Bello has enshrined the principle of fairness across board. It has never happened in the state before. In the past, only a segment of people are qualified, then only a segment of people from a particular region can hold “certain” positions. That wall has been crumbled. The madness of ethnicity and religion has also been buried. These are “intangibles” that maintain peace.

Shamefully, it is also on record that no Government since the history of Kogi State ever had any Masterplan for the state in terms of governance Direction. Governance was hitherto run on 9jabet permutations. No projectors on the poles of reality, only predictions. Half the time, the state lost. It is the administration of Gov. Yahaya Bello that would ever have a 4 year masterplan for the state, termed “The New Direction Blue Print”, which covers a vision in five (5) Thematic Areas of Government: Security, Civil Service Reforms, Education, Youths and Enterprise along with Social Welfare.

He is also currently building and refurbishing about 53 roads in Kogi State, with most at various stages of completion and priority roads at 60% completion in January, 2019. Do you know the big one? He is constructing the multi billion dollar project of “Youths in Governance”, as that stature reflect 85% of his cabinet. It is called a project because of the generational shift. Old and expired workforce controlled the resources of this country, with the 85% youth population scampering for crumbs from the table of old politicians. Bello has done something differently, which could set the stage for political leadership revolution in Nigeria. Having young people as 32 year old Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Salisu Ogu, in power is not bean cake. For a developing nation like Nigeria, politics is a very expensive venture. Elections are the most expensive. This venture comes with politicians building “structures”, these structures is an institute of followership. Followership that is maintained by extreme benevolence which is the oil used for greasing the structures in order to create a fragment of “societal interests” which forms political loyalty and followership for influence during elections.

For a Gov. Bello who made a bold choice of bringing raw talents, unrich hands and un-lobbied leadership into the system, rising into a cadre of influence is parity expensive in the Nigerian equation. New millionaires have been created away from the old establishment. New economic route to others have been created. The 85% youth statistics in our entire population has been economically affected. A generation running into generations has been affected.

What about Security? The template of Governance in Kogi State before Gov. Bello was “Thugocracy”. A system controlled by “okpolor eye” politicians, who intimidated, maimed and silenced opposition for control. Human life was life a chicken, roasted by spoilt village thieves. Kidnapping was an employment opportunity. Cultism was the new education. Every street and clan witnessed territorial bullying. The number of deaths equaled wealth for some people. It is a state of despondency in the time of democracy.

In 2015, Kogi State was declared as the “Capital of Kidnapping” in Nigeria. Terrorists cells also existed in Kogi state, supplying BokoHaram operations. It was that terrible.

Bello came with his ferociously on Security reforms, nipping the hottest zone, Kogi Central that houses 51% of the crimes committed in Kogi state, into an almost Zero. He would win the Inspector General of Police’ Award on Security for the year 2016, his first year in Governance. His security template, came with the cost of injecting about 157 operational vehicles to the federal government security agents in Kogi, who created a harmony of information sharing amongst all the security colors in the state, with 15km perimeter checks, 24 hours patrol and re-awakening of the 2012 State Vigilantes Act into functionality to step up “Community Policing”. As an employer of labor and local intelligence gathering tool and security for the hinterlands, the Kogi State Vigilante Services hosts about 6,000 men and women, trained across board to man sentry of local policing which has created a tripod of Community, State and Federal security model- the success story of Security in Northern Nigeria. No wonder, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, Report for 2018 shows Kogi as the 2nd most peaceful state in Nigeria, with 0.02 percent crime rate for the 2017, crashing from 0.62% in the month of August, same year.

It all came at a cost. Taking from the civil service establishment, to spread to other sectors. This decision hemorrhaged his image so bitterly because the cost of change is very expensive. In matters of hunger as well, reforms are hard to explain. Especially his Civil Service Reforms. Although, things are riding back to steady, the local Government which was left with 10% salaries and sometimes 30% has reached the peak of 54% for the first time in half a decade under Governor Bello. Most importantly, biometrics capturing that followed the payment of salaries, with simple “Over the Table” payment has helped forstered transparency in Government wage bill, put a digitized payroll system in place, easing probity and entrenching consistency in the payment of salaries. The process was painful. The gains would be more.

Whilst some people can argue that the Civil Service establishment collapse has ruined the economy of the state, an educational fallacy has been spotted. Statistics from global bodies such as the United Nation is also saying something different. Since Governor Bello came to power, the UN- Oxford MPI on poverty across Nigerian states shows that Kogi reduced poverty by 3% in 2017, a decline from 26% in 2015. As the civil service also crashed in ghost workers, the Agricultural Industry which is the highest employers of labor bicycled up. The Kogi State Government is building the multi-billion Rice Mill at Ejiba, Kogi West, Kogi State, which is to have a capacity of 50,000 ton per day. This farm is sitting on an over 2000 hectares of land, with rice planted by the state Government and other portions open to the indigenes. The farm also houses ponds for Fish, to best the 2016 recommendation that Kogi has an aquatic future. It is also on record that prime-time logistics and Poverty Register provided by the Kogi State Social Investment Office ringed Kogi into the pilot state of 7 states that get the N5,000 Conditional Cash Transfers to the most vulnerable citizens in the state. Under the Anchor Borrowers Scheme of the Federal Government, the Kogi State Government has provided counterpart in logistics and invested in more than 100 tractors to clear lands for farmers as the FG provide them seedling and free fertilizers. On this scheme, about 16,000 farmers are enrolled, creating new millionaires, this figure is 2000 less of the entire civil service workforce that gulped the entire resources of the state in the past.

It is expedient to explain the foundational grey areas of Governor Yahay Bello’s challenges which are from difficult reforms, however, where the state is headed is better than where she used to berth. There is now a vision. There is now a state planning.

The succeeding Governor was not even sure of his own achievements. As the years piled, running into 28 years, the people of the state started getting tired. Their emotions grew. Their expectations grew. Their impatience grew. Everything would be falling on a 41 year old Yahaya Bello to jump-start.

Looking at the polls. He has displayed an uncanny political wit, thus, managing the party primaries in the state with accurate fairness, transparency and calm, without any disgruntled contestant seeking court interpretation. His foot soldiers have also employed local political intelligence in penetrating the grass-roots, using “little to do more”, whilst surviving as young people in power.

The choice of candidates for the elections are also on noble political thinking. There is a sifting out of core grass-rooters who have impacted the people on their own personal capacities. Demonstrated progress and outstanding achievements in their various fields of endeavor whilst reducing the influence of “money politics” aimed that gradually changing the mentality of the people towards politics.

In sheer glance, his political opponents hold meetings outside the state, release media Press releases to overheat the polity, forgetting that grass-roots politics is what wins elections and not Media Politics; working with the assumption that the people hate the Governor.

From where we are coming from, we have a fine line of Egypt which we shall never return to. If you disagree, what are the alternative options? Who has said something different that is realistic? Who has a plan? What legacy of Governance was left for Bello except the ones he is creating?

Where do our android comrades without ideology have to go?

Promise Emmanuel writes from Lokoja, Kogi State.
(Prodigypromise.emmanuel@gmail.com)

Civil Servants Salaries; Governor Bello inaugurates table payment committee

By Halimat Isah


Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has inaugurated the Table Payment Committee also known as "Pay Parade" to commence in earnest the payment of salaries to all cleared civil servants in Kogi State.

Governor Bello who inaugurated the committee on Monday in Government House, Lokoja, said there was every need for the government to know the exact number of civil servants on its payroll and to also identify and address the issue of cleared and yet to be paid workers.

He said the effort will put an end to the issue of civil servants cleared and not paid, adding that his request for table payment was mainly to ensure no genuine civil servant was left unpaid.

"Discharge your duties diligently and with the fear of God. Do the right thing, no preferential treatments, favour no one above the other. Let's effect accountability. We have come a long way in sanitizing the system. I commend the organized labour and every genuine civil servant for their patients," he added.

According to the Governor, the government out of transparency and accountability, has always declared and published the exact amount of every fund
that entered the state treasury, since inception.

"On assumption of office, the government applied to access the bailout funds to defray salaries owed workers by the previous government and when the first phase of the money which was N20b came, in agreement with labour, N10b was given to clear the salaries of state workers, while another N10b was released to pay local government workers, and the utilization was published in our national dailies."

Governor Bello said upon the release of Paris refund, out of the magnanimity of President Muhammudu Buhari, the government again reached an agreement with labour to clear salaries with seventy percent of the total sum received.

While assuring civil servants that his administration will continue to place utmost priority on the welfare of the workers, Governor Bello added that the issue of salaries in the state will soon become a thing of the past with the current effort.

In his remarks, the Kogi State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Onuh Edoka commended Governor Bello for his transparency in addressing the issue of workers welfare.

Comrade Edoka said the union will give the governor the necessary support to ensure the last tranche of the bailout funds which is a little above N30b be released to the state to help settle all entitlements owed civil servants.

"This union I must say, is impressed with your level of sincerity. All the amounts declared by your government is in consonant with what we have. Anything it will cost us as a union to support you, to enable you access the last batch of the bailout funds, we are ready so as to ensure that, all workers are paid and everyone is happy."

Members of the committee are; the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Arike Ayoade Folashade who will serve as the chairperson, the Head of Service, Mrs. Deborah Ogunmola, Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Idris Asiwaju, the Director General, Government House Administration, Alhaji Oricha Shaibu, the DG Bureau and Grassroot Mobilisation, Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, Barrister Moses Okezie, and Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim are all members.

Others are; Alhaji Usman Ochidi, Hon. Ibrahim Odoma, Comrade Onu Edoka, Comrade Akeji Aaron and Comrade Runti Ojo.
.

According to a Social Media Influencer, Kogi Rebel, he says the Table Payment system would put to rest the actual internal corruption that has made it practically cumbersome to determine the actual wage bill as the civil service system is so corrupt that those who failed the screening in the past paid bribes ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 to be reabsored to the payroll, there making the average 3.2BN which comes to Kogi as monthly allocation insufficient to pay a wage bill that hovers around 3.1, 2.6 or 2.8B due civil service corruption.

He opined that if workers appear physically with presentation of the employment letters, Identity Cards before the issuance of Cheques to clear their salaries after their liabilities and other loans have been deducted, it would settle the issue of those shortchanging the system through bank alerts and also making every effort of the Governor in other areas of infrastructure and security look jejune in the face of his challenges.

Table Payment involves physical appearance by civil servants to collect their salaries by Cheques after presentation of their employment letter and I.D cards in order to know the actual workers on the state Government’s wage bill.

Ab025:
The poster is ignorant of things happening in my dear kogi state.

The Governor owes about 8months salary and whenever he pays monthly salary, state/local govt workers only get between 20%_30% of their actual salary.

Only the Governor knows where the remaining percentage goes to.

It seems you’re all out for deliberate mischief and wickedness. Can you swear that he owes workers on the cleared list 8 months? Do so or die by road accident.

This is wickedness. He owes 5 months.

They started paying 3 to state workers today and 4 to pensioners. He would pay another 1 month in a week time when allocation hits the state account.

Before this issue was agreed, they was an NLC, FG and state government meeting.

Acidosis:



Shut the hell up!!! No worker has received a dime in the past 3 - 4 months! The few times he paid between the last quarter of 2017 to 2018, workers got half salaries.

Are you a civil servant or a propagandist?

Show us proof of this.

Wiseandtrue:
What was he doing all this while only God knows how many souls that death trap has swallowed before he decided to mobilise workers there

And it's all because of the upcoming election if not I doubt the stupid boy would have paid any attention to it

Yahaya Bello is a reference point for FAILURE!

This happened during the rain season. You can’t also construct roads during this time. Be kind to logic.

Actually, Governor Yahaya Bello owes genuine workers who scaled through the screening exercise 5 months salary areas. He has started paying state workers 3 months on the spot and 4 months on the spot for pensioners. Another 1 month is expected to be paid in a week time when the September allocation hits the state government coffers.

This is Umomi road, it is currently under construction and people have been mobilized to site. When the Gov is responding, let us give him some credit.

I am a Kogite and I live in the state.

A user posted the washed away Umomi/Idah road this morning on Nairaland. However, Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, according to a Facebook User, Kogi Rebel, says the Governor has moblized the contractors to site and has started the payment of 4 months salaries out of the 5 months salary oweed civil servants in the state.

See pictures..

Cattle Colony For Kogi, Bello's Advantage

By Kogi Rebel (Promise Emmanuel)

Governor Yahaya Bello is in the news again. For some lips, he has made another "infantile" decision. To some hearts, he has opened Kogi State to the murderous carnage of the Fulani herdsmen that have left hundreds of deaths in their wake in the state of Benue, Plateau, Adamawa and Taraba states. We are still dealing with the psychological fear driven into the soul of Nigeria by Nigeria.

In socially volatile country like Nigeria, such fears are palpable. At least, politicians of business interests benefit from crisis. State crisis. National crisis. Social crisis. I can understand why the people of the Confluence are skeptical. One thing I need to explain to the Confluence fear is also that; amidst the controversies trailing the young Govenor, he has a stomach for big, surgery-inclined, painful but yielding decision-making-competence.

How many of us who's tongues, thoughts and keypads understand ranching or cattle colony before reacting?
How many have also studied the consequences of this decision without political coloration put into it?

Let us jettison political-marriage to interpretations of issues for a while.

Come with me,

Since the creation of Nigeria, vaginaling into the times before urbanisation, Fulani cattle rearers were known to other Nigerians by the ajala-movement of their cattle amongst cities, amongst villages, between states, within Nigeria.

The Nigerian Government dating back to 1965 had outlined grazing routes. These routes were largely forested areas with no human life. These Fulanis are largely people of the wild. They cared for the lives of their cattle than the dangers of scathering wild forests of deadly snakes, wild animals, independent growing grasses and whatnot. Their social life were nomad. With temporary settlements in towns of favourable pasture for their cattle, they organised themselves into tents. Their pregnant wives give birth in unreliable places. Mostly, vulnerable to wild infections, tropical diseases while their children are defactored from receiving medical immunisation. They have remained displaced in Nigeria, maintaining their culture and economic muscle of cattle rearing which produces beef and milk for the Nigerian protein stomach.

Urbanisation took swift. The Fulanis remained largely unplanned for. They weren't incorporated into the modern life by the Government. The ancient grazing routes had been taken over by city arrangement of new houses for settlement and farming ranches for subsistence.

The Federal disconnect or human planning and integration laid a ground for the fertility of clashes in interests of the Fulanis to roam their cattle along grazing routes without interference with a new urban city of people and farms of contemporary growth.

This above has been the problem. The deadly part of this problem is that the owners of some of these cattle have capitalised on this loophole, arming the herders with weapons to fight for territorial integrity. However, the physical density of this war is subject to the response from the center.

In the case of Kogi state, Governor Yahaya Bello has made a controversial decision, yet circumspect from the security and economic angle.


If we are to be careful, rather than wail, we would need to find solutions. Quick ones. It wouldn't matter the political narrative it is given on social or traditional media. People would continue to die if state Governments do nothing about and for their own people.

What is a Ranching?

Ranching is an individually sponsored settlement of grazing reserve on huge hectares of land, meant for a specific purpose. People can ranch for milk production. Others can ranch for beef production. It would mean that a large area of land or lands are purchased for caring for cattle.

What is Cattle Colony?

A cattle colony is a segregated facility that houses ranches. Here, many hectares of lands are bought by the Government, whereby the chosen colony would require government buying the pieces of land in that area from the owners, paying them compensation and creating use for the land. The Land Use Act empowers the government for taking any land they want, hence, compensation would be paid. That is how Governments get some lands to build roads if it belongs to others.

In the case of a Colony. It restricts ALL herders to a particular location. They'll be no scattered movement. They'll be no fear about who's going to anybody's farm. If a herder is caught outside the proposed colony which is to be monitored by Government and private investors ranching in the colony, then the case of foreigners invading farm lands would be clear.

The Security Angle for Bello

If Kogi State is to maintain her security state, being the most vulnerable state in Nigeria because of her border relationship with about ten states in Nigeria, proactive security measures should be handy. If the Fulani herdsmen are pushed out of neighbouring states which Kogi borders, it is no rocket science that they'll pass through Kogi before retreating to anywhere they intend to settle. We are landlocked and social locked. What then can we do?

1. Social inclusion:

kogi state has long been living with Fulanis. The state was carved out of Kwara State, which is a social model of cohabitation between the Yorubas and Fulanis. The current Senate President, Bukola Saraki is reputed to be a Fulani. His family controls Kwara politics. A part of Kwara was ceded in 1991, adjoined with the old Benue state which the Igalas came from. The Fulani history has always been there.
In some parts of villages of Kogi West senatorial districts, Fulanis have settled with a culture of intermarriages.

In many parts of Igala land, the local traditional rulers have made good hospitality for various Fulani communities who also contribute to the market economy. On popular Ajaojuta road, the Fulanis display Garden eggs for sale. There are meat markets around the state.

In reiteration of the Fulani leaders to the traditional council as an established Policy by Governor Bello, a social inclusion morality is being set up, whereby the collective problem of the communities would also be a responsibility of the Fulanis residing in those communities.

2. Biometric Capture of Fulanis:

This inclusion, aligning with that of the Cattle Colony would pave way for appropriate biometric information of all Fulanis living in the state. It would detail who is doing what, why and when. It would eliminate the plausible deniability enjoyed by the murderers who are never unknown.


Economic Angle for Bello

1.As pioneers of the Cattle Colony as part of the 16 states in Nigeria, out of tye 36 that have volunteered lands for the colony project, funded by the Federal Government, Kogi State would be benefitting. The compensation to be paid by those whose lands would be affected carries economic implications.

The opportunities a Cattle Colony provides for individuals who wish to enter into ranching animals is enormous. How many Kogi would like to buy cows for rearing? Opportunities.

2. Meat and Milk Market:

Milk factories, chain abattoiral stores, hides and skin markets are all subsets of this gain. The proper management of cattle and her end products in other parts of the world is due to ranching and settlement of Colonies. The chain effects of this on Kogi economy is gigantic. As a middle-centered-state, inward and outward mobilisation of people for exports of some of these commodities would be on the rise. If the economy of the state is to pick up, the argument for the dredging of the Niger should keep at north.

In conclusion, I would suggest that rather than tantrums and ethnic sentiments, Kogites should come up with suggestions on better alternatives. Should the Govenor fold his arms and watch things happening around escalate into Kogi?

Even if you think his decision isn't the best, come up with alternative suggestions and how it should be done. Save name calling, it is a hallmark of dumb people.

In integrity, the Yahaya Bello's Government maybe proposing a town hall meeting in this regard to listen to her people. I should follow it keenly and bring you information.

...Kogi is rising

Forensic Analysis of Forged Certificates in Kogi: Primary School Teachers Top Chart
By Promise Emmanuel (Kogi Rebel)

A forensic dive into the document released by the Kogi State document on various offenses committed by some civil servants on the “uncleared” list of the Civil Service Reform screening, as it relates to certificate forgery shows that a total of 523 persons forged their certificates in the first batch of the released document.
Dissecting this, the various ministries tally:
Under the educational hub, it shows that a total of 321 persons forged their certificates, this is only an insight into the can of worms that may be opened in the coming days.
-Ministry of Education (34) persons.
-Primary school teachers of all the 21 local Governments Areas (206) persons
-STTEB (Science Technology and Technical Education Board) 50
-TSC (Teaching Service Commission) -31 persons.
Total= 321.
Here is a breakdown of the Certificate Forgers by Local Government areas according to the report.
NB: M (male)/ F (Female).
Ankpa: 121 persons – F 48, M 73
Dekina: 62 – F 22, M 40
Omala: 56 – F 19, M 37
Olamaboro: 50 – F 24, M 26
Ofu: 35 – F 14, M 21
Okene: 28 – F 7, M 21
Igalamela/Odolu: 22 – F 6, M 16
Bassa: 21 – F 5, M 16
Okehi: 18 – F 4, M 14
Ajaokuta: 17 – F 8, M 9
Adavi: 17 – F 5, M 12
Kogi: 14 – F 6, M 8
Lokoja: 13 – F 5, M 8
Idah: 13 – F 5, M 8
Ibaji: 12 – F 1, M 11
Mopamuro: 6 – F 2, M 4
Kabba/Bunu: 5 – F 1, M 4
Ijumu: 5 – F 3, M 2
Yagba-east: 4 – F 3, M 1
Ogori/Magongo: 3 – F 0, M 3
Yagba-west: 1 – F 0, M 1

Male = 332
Female = 191
Total: 523
Majority of them (up to 401) claimed they had the NCE from Kogi State College of Education, COE, Ankpa. Others (100) claimed they had National Diploma, ND, from the Kogi state Polytechnic, Lokoja. A few others (22) claimed they had degree certificates from the Kogi State University, KSU, Anyigba. The bread breaker of the forgers was a lecturer from Kogi State Polytechnic, a village political youth leader who forged his certificate from his the degree level to his Masters level. He was given a lecturing job on that premise even as a clear cut illiterate who didn’t attend lectures or satisfy the rigour of examination.
These category of persons also are part of those alleging not to have been paid 22 months salary. It is also worthy to note that primary school teachers top the chart in the number of certificate forgers, it is therefore unavoidably necessary to conduct Competency test for this category of teachers to save the future of our youths.
I am beyond depressed.

The Kogi State University President, Comrade Philips Omepa Shaibu has been impeached, today, 21st April, 2017 by the Students Parliament resolution on various allegations bordering on fraudulent activities with his office.

The motion for his impeachment was moved by Sen. Okolo Gabriel Papa, representing the Department of Animal Production and Seconded by Sen. Musa Bashiru, representing the faculty of Law. The sitting was empowered by the Article 3, section 7 of the Law making body of the union.



Citing grounds for his impeachment, he was alleged to have committed the following offence:



a) Embezzlement of fund for NANS National Convention to the tune of N240,000 and NANS Zonal Convention to the tune of N95,000 respectively.

b) Embezzlement of funds for the Students Building Center project

c) Refusal to appear before the Union Parliament after an investigation into the allegations by the parliament

d) Embezzlement of students union Judiciary Arm salaries and some executives

f) Destruction of Union property, i.e (Students Union Bus) and embezzling funds for repair of vehicle.

g) Deceit of the students he is leading by deceiving them severally and thwarting the students' efforts for a peaceful demonstration

h) Bringing disrepute to the Union's image by going into a fight by a fellow student and having himself beaten up by the Nigerian military personnel.

i) Allegation of collection of bribe by student ad-hoc committee

j) Incompetency on the part of the president

The above mentioned constitutes the ground on which he was impeached by the Parliament arm of the union. Declaring the impeachment, the Speaker of the KSU Parliament, Hon. Usman Husseini Attaja called for any opposition to his impeachment, none obliged and he therefore announced his impeachment.

Contained in the Parliament resolution is an announcement that the Vice President of the Union, Anthony Edogbo shall act in the capacity of the students' union as her Executive President. The House also consensually warned the former union leader to stop parading himself as the President of the Union, with an ultimatum to return all the union's properties within his possession under 48hours.

Recall that, the former President (Omepa) has declared recently on his Facebook timeline (Philips Omepa) of his plans to mobilise students of the institution to embark on a protest against the Kogi State Government for a protracted strike. His impeachment therefore, has legally stripped him of powers to conduct the proposed protest while powers now reside with the new Executive President, Anthony Edogbo. In the parliament's resolution, it is contained that a protest would however embark on a peaceful protest if the institution is not re-opened before the 25th of April, 2017.


http://www.themosquitos.news/news/kogi-state-university-sug-president-philips-omepa-impeached-allegations-fraud/

So long your laziness..

One Year of Governor Yahaya Bello in Lugard House: Struggle, Penury and Hope


One year orbit is an evidence of 365 days of opportunities and failures. Depending on the tides of sail, a captain of any ship may head for the rocks or the fruits.
Lugard House is rich in history. It comes with colonial windows of various shades of nostalgia. His Excellency, Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, the 4th Governor of the State, created on August 28th, 1991, governs his people from the first capital of Nigeria, Lokoja, in Kogi State. According to historical relics, Mrs. Flora Shaw Lugard, wife of the Governor General of Nigeria, Frederick John Dealtry Lugard, 1st Baron Lugard GCMG, CB, DSO, PC (22 January 1858 – 11 April 1945), also known as Sir Frederick Lugard between 1901 and 1928, a British soldier, mercenary, explorer of Africa and colonial administrator (Wikipedia, 2017), gazed into the adjoining point of the Rivers: Niger and Benue and named this country, Nigeria, from Niger-Area. This is an important history to Nigeria, as to the people of Kogi State. Lugard himself administered (commercial and Administrative) Nigeria from Lokoja. His moderate office is situated on an Obudu standard mountain in Lokoja, referred to as Mount Patti.
Leadership.ng says, according to European historical records, Lokoja was said to have been founded by one William Balfour Baikie. Realistically, though, there were natives living in the area for thousands of years before the arrival of the Europeans. Atabor Julius was cited in Leadership report of October 3rd, 2014, saying, “the magnificent Niger and Benue rivers meet in Lokoja, forming the famous confluence from which Kogi derives its official sobriquet, ‘The Confluence State’. Kogi shares a common border with nine states in Nigeria and is essentially a transit route to 16 other states, including the FCT. Lokoja, on the other hand, also saddles some strategic roads to, at least, five geo-political zones out of the six geo-political zones in Nigeria”.
Don’t lose me, this introduction attempts to create an atmosphere of thorough understanding of how Kogi State is underreported and represented in Nigeria. With these facts to brainstorm, we see: History has it that, there the town (Lokoja) is a special place for many reasons. First, Lokoja was the first administrative and commercial capital of Nigeria when Lugard became governor-general of Nigeria after Mungo Park and Richard and John Landers explored the River Niger in the 1830s.
The state has 21 local government areas to manage with about 4.5million indigenes of Igala, Ebira, Yoruba-Okun, Bassa-Nge, Bassa-Komu, Oworo, kakanda and other ethnic extractions. Governor Yahaya Bello has a lot of challenges sitting on his 42 year old head. By far, a strong man. He emerged from a constitutional defining court case in 2016, after the unfortunate demise of Kogi State’s political colossus, Prince Abubakar Audu, who died on November 22, 2015, at the eve of his being declared as the substantive winner of the guber elections, which eventually brought in Mr. Adoza.
2016 couldn’t have been a rosy year for the young governor; an estate of trouble with electoral matters was heaped upon his head. Side-by-side with the giant expectations of Kogites who expected a de-javu of Audu landmark legacies of infrastructural and economic development. However, for the politically naïve, altruism of objectivity was lacking. Let me explain: Kogi State is not an uncomplex state like it appears. There’s a ceaseless occupation of tribal traffic that gridlocks into jams of ethnic hate and other familiar issues that characterises the Nigerian political scene; a complex-complicated-madhouse.
The prolonged court-case dragged hitherto consideration for concentration of governance. Many political pundits would disagree with this position, reason that a visionary leader prepares before vying for political positions. Not to disagree with their position, however, Nigeria is not a smooth sail. Every development comes with new chemical equations for balances to take place.
Here are my appraisals for his government in the following sectors:
Security:
When the governor took the wheels of power, Kogi state festered in kidnappings and other itinerant crimes, from road robbery to escalated cult-related-mayhem and social illegalities. From a leader who understands the importance of peace as it drives development, his administration took a major swipe at the criminals by providing security operatives with required apparatus such as vehicles and other ancillary gadgets for combating crimes. It is also a novel strategy that other states can learn from the kogi State government on how she harmonised various security agencies in the state into a single-goal fighting unit. The Local Policing strategy of Vigilantes were also adequately utilised to fish out local hoodlums who constituted nuisance and drove the nail of fear into harmless citizen.
On security, the Governor has 9/10. As a suggestion, the various vigilante units should further be strengthened as they know the real criminals.

Economy:
Kogi State is touted a civil service state due to almost an absence of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs. The mono-economy which is powered by the salaries of civil servants is in coma, due to the bullets fired from the general recession in the Nigerian economy and the inconsistent payment of civil servant salaries. Many arguments have taken room to why the economy should be in such a despotic state with the array of potentials of human and natural resources abounding the state. A serious administration would have technocrats manning the economic sector of the state without the inclusion of regular “politicians”. To support this view, the Special Adviser on SMEs in the state, is a young man without any track record of public or private sector experience as concerns the economy. This is happening in a state in dire need from an extreme thirst of economic diversification. The economic plans for the state as contained in the NewDirection Blueprint is taking forever to surface, the monolect-media team has also done a very bad job in responding to questions from the indigenes in that regard.
On the Economy, the Governor scored 2/10. As a recommendation, the economic team should be rejigged as soon as possible to prevent the burial of Kogi State as a whole. Technocrats should be saturated into the system as politicians are only relevant during campaigns. There’s also a loud call for an “Investment and Economic Conference” to pitch the state and its rich resources to prospective internal, external and international investors. Kogi state with its many mineral resources and human capacity for skilled and unskilled labour is a fertile ground for both new and expanding businesses. As a virgin economy, most introductory businesses have 70% trajectory of succeeding if the central location of the state is marketed adequately.

Agricultural Sector:
The mainstay of Kogi State’s economy is agriculture. The people of Kogi state are industrious farmers while the state boasts of the most fertile lands across the North Central. Staple farm produce such as: Yam, Cassava, Millet, Bambarra-nuts, Maize, Beans, Rice, Cashew-nuts, Oil Palm, Melon, Beni-seed, etc, are farmed in commercial quantities in the state. Supports to farmers to improve yields of their seedlings has been a challenge. Farmers have been largely left to their fate without any governmental assistance. The agricultural sector is probably the most viable sector for subsistence and commercial farming. Keen attention, when given to this sector can generate inter-state agro-income and internally generated revenue, (IGR) for the state to aid the statutory allocation from the federal purse to fund the budget.
On Agricultural Sector, the Governor scored 3/10. As a recommendation Provision of tractors for cooperative rentals should be of immediate execution. Provision of manures and irrigation services and mechanized farming approaches should be also implemented.

Tourism:
The ancient city of Lokoja, Kogi state, comes with history that all lovers and history-hungry citizens can feed from. From the heights of Mount Patti, which was the first administrative headquarters of Nigeria after the 1914 amalgamation, to the Confluence of Rivers: Niger and Benue, to the ancient city of Idah which housed the sovereign Ata Igala, to the land of happenings of Okene and the agrarian rural-metropolis of the Okun lands provides a soothing and rich experience for tourists.
The tourism sector is the most viable sector in Kogi state with the rich history that defines the people of Kogi. The Confluence beach hotel and creation of beach fronts for holidays are what a serious government would take seriously.
Kogi as a melting pot from other states also afford travellers to take connecting travel joints from all parts of Nigeria before journeying forth. Mount Patti should be transformed into a wonder resort like the Obudu ranch.
On Tourism, the Government takes home 4/10.

Financial Management:
This is a very sensitive area for both government and her citizens as public accountability is inimical to the political clime in Nigeria. Government seldom see it as a duty to be accountable to how public funds are generated and utilized. They’ve been countless accusations from all quarters as to what happened to the 20Billion naira bailouts funds, released in 2016 for the payment of civil servant salaries. The payment have been epileptic due to an unending civil service reforms that attempts to fish out ghost workers. According to media sources, other funds released are Ecological funds (15BN), Paris Refund (unknown amount) and consistent monthly allocation which fluctuates between 2.5Bn – 3.5BN. The Government also announced last year that the state’ IGR has been improved to about 1BN to compliment federal allocation. However, the question that streams goes thus: What is the financial state of the state? Why are salaries not being paid in the abundance of these funds?
Accountability is linked to integrity. The Government of Yahaya Bello, promised on 27th January, 2016, on her swearing in that she’ll be accountable to Kogites. The time is 365 days overdue.
On Financial Management, the government goes home with 3/10.


Civil Service Reforms:
The civil service reform(s) is sensitive area only courageous leaders thread. The Kogi state Civil Service Reform is not left out. The corrupt hands and cronies who have led the state in the past saturated Government payroll with their prebendal beneficiaries and ghost workers to milk the state of robust resources that can be used to transform other sectors of the economy. Wicked and soul-less beneficiaries draw salaries they’ve not worked for while the state also rewards Heads of Local Governments, Pension, and other ministries with octopal payments. The stench oozes to high heavens. The administration of Yahaya Bello has shown courage to weed out ghost workers. However, the Government has taken the wrong approach towards the various and endless screening(s) which Kogites have been subjected to without any form of incentive. There’ve been issues of deaths, unfortunately, to those who have been subjected to the administrative malfeasance of the screening committee.
With this foundation still, the Governor cannot take the sole blame as those conducting the screening have used it as premise to witch-hunt their colleagues. Issues of insensitivity and gross inefficiency by the screening agents contributed to the lacklustre outcome of the findings. It is an established fact that Governor Bello has not been conducting the screening by himself, as such, the various government officials used as resource persons for the processes are also routinely complicit in the state of things.
As a matter of urgency, the yardstick used for determining ghost workers should be made open for the general public. Paltry reasons such as non-constant withdrawals from a particular location in the state is a jejune reason to declare a legitimate worker ghost. It is on record that most rural areas in kogi state seldom have banks to withdraw their salaries until they travel out to major towns which may be outside their local government.

Infrastructural Development:
Some infrastructural development strides have been achieved, while some are ongoing. With the renovation of Government house, erection of new structures to accommodate the relevant workforce needed by this administration, goes a long way into the right steps to be taken. The flag-off of major roads in the three senatorial districts in the state is also commendable, as when those roads are completed, would link rural-communities to the relevant mobility of persons and farm produce required to feed the state and generate IGR. However, more can be done this year. Kogi State is too big for such plaques, compared to other states in terms infrastructural development.
On infrastructure, the government has 7/10.
Media:
The media team of the present government needs to up her game. It is either they don’t have access to government officials, documents or some stringent administrative bottle-necks have been created that impinges on the effectiveness of the media unit.
Many round holes in square pegs cannot work in a state like kogi that is in labyrinth of information-deficiency. Most media representatives of the government only make use of social media, which has a limit of 5000 thousand friends and followers (Facebook), who may not have full authority to inform a large population of about 4.5 million people who barely have access to social media. In-depth explanations and exposition of government plans is never in the attention of the media team. Many communication scholars are of the position that No=information is better off Half-information which may lead to conflict-over-information.
Gross incompetence and media insensitivity have been noticed with the media handlers of this administration such as: Engagement in online wars with government critics that leads to naming tagging and calling. Personalisation of Government Communication into denigration. Display of wealth, cars and other accessories while open fraternisation and praise-singing of political appointees is their currency of operation. The media team can be passed for online-campaign-team. With immediate effect, media capacity trainings should be organised for the media unit or outright relief of their duties for better hands to come aboard.

Conclusively, in my opinion, the Office of Social Investment Programs and Ministry of Rural development are the shinning brides of this administration for the year 2016. It is also my belief that the administration of Yahaya Bello has good intentions to transform the state, however, intention(s) is not enough, and action is the catalyst needed. With a budget of about 110 BN, with capital expenditure taking north, we expect to see rapid implementation of proposed projects. 3 years cannot be wasted grovelling with “good intentions”.

Promise Emmanuel writes from Lokoja, Kogi State.
He is a social critic and media psychologist.
He can be reached on: prodigypromise.emmanuel@gmail.com

I SAW THIS POST ON FACEBOOK BY THIS USER. IT SO HILARIOUS AND TRUE.





Pause:
Look into this Femisnistic arguments:
" "What two consenting adults do with their
body is nobody's business" whatever I choose to do as long as it
doesn't hurt anyone is no one's business".
True. But we operate under a state. Meaning, we live together.
Physically, psychologically or mentally whatever anyone does,
affects you. It may be pronounced or subliminal in appearance.
Don't become foolish.


Look into these premises too:
" Whatever two consentinggnome adult politicians do with
Government money, doesn't affect me, afterall, I have my own
business ".
...they steal all public funds and capital flight it to other
countries. Salaries are not paid. Money is mopped up from
circulation. You don't have patronage, you close down.

2. "Whatever two adult prostitutes do with their body in making
sex movies, it's not my business, it is their life".
...and because of lack of internet gatekeeping, your 14 year old
boy accesses the sex video (pornography), after high mental
stimulation, goes to your neighbour's 10 year old girl and tries his
learned behaviour (see, television violence theories).


3. "I don't care if any adult sells her body for money
(prostitution ).
...and your husband patronises a prostitute, acquires STDs and
other diseases, infects YOU, an innocent wife. Well, you cry that
he is soul-less.


4. "I am a Christian, it is unGodly to go into politics".
...... Well, Buhari is elected. You're now a prayer warrior, asking
God to kill or remove him. He refuses to die. Poverty makes you
gradually lose your hope in God, to you, he doesn't answer prayers.


5. " I am a feminist. Any form of woman shaming I shall fight".
...a woman agrees to sell her body for 1million dollars. You argue
that Feminism abhors a woman commercialising her body. But hey,
after all, you can't use your own morality to evaluate others.

6. " I am an atheist. I don't believe in God".
... well, prove how the world was created. You say through a
cosmic blast, because the world came out of nothing via big bang
theory. And then, another atheist scientist says, "there's no
cause without effects".
You argue again, there's no God. You're asked, How was man
created? You say, man evolved from Apes, No, man shares the same
ancestors with Apes. Then you're asked, "do you share ancestry
with Apes"? You go silent. Then insult others that they don't use
their brains.


7. " I am a Christian. My war is not carnal but spiritual".
...erm, you wait, speak in tongues when you're attacked. Die
miserably and other Christians like yourself would shout, " Islam is
devilish".

8. "I support the anti-corruption war of Buhari"..
...You're told, but he only fights corruption on paper, you answer,
saying "corruption is fighting back".


10. "We have defeated Bokoharam. Shekau has been decimated and
killed. Sambisa has fallen".
...Shekau resurrects in another video, claiming nothing like that
happened. You say "cowards, come openly to fight".


11.. "Me, thinking, see confused people"..
...You're also thinking, this Promise Emmanuel is confused.

The world is truly full of confused people.
c. Promise Emmanuel, 2016.

This is really hilariously filled with wits, sense and truth. A masterpiece!

Dear Yakubu Dogara: Mokan Mokan L'oye n Kan- Life Is Turn By Turn By Bayo Adeyinka

Your Excellency Yakubu Dogara,

I'm writing to commiserate with you on the recent turn of events. It is now your turn to face the music and maybe dance along to the tunes. It was Saraki's turn yesterday and it is now your turn today. My people have a proverb: 'Mokan mo kan loye nkan, oye to ba kan ara Ede, o n bo wa kan ara Iwo'- life is turn by turn, if life rotates towards a citizen of Ede town now, it is certain that it will soon become the turn of the Iwo man tomorrow. Incidentally, your Deputy Lasun Yusuf who is from Osun State and is in the same padded boat with you, will explain the proverb better. His hometown Ilobu is just a few minutes away from Ede and Iwo.

My main purpose is to advise you on the template you can use so that you can cope with the recent turn of events. I know of a template that is foolproof and I will share it with you free of charge. You can thank me later- but not with anything padded, sir. It's the 'Saraki Template'- ST for short. There's no point re-inventing the wheel, Your Excellency. If something has worked well for someone in similar circumstances, it will also work well for you-especially since you're both children of the same circumstance.

Get your own Dino Melaiye. Honourable Abdulrazak Namdas, your Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs is no Dino Melaiye. Has he slapped his wife before? Has he been called a dog and he threatened to do what only dogs do? Has he made any menopausal statements before? Does he have a pedigree of being involved in brawls with his dress torn? Has he ever walked on the street of Bourdillon while daring the lion of the jungle? If the answer is no, then your strategy is wrong and you are in serious trouble. Don't you know that 'omo ina ni a ma n ran si ina'- only a fiery child can confront another? Let me tell you a short story I heard from the grapevine. A man who wanted to contest for the governorship of a state where Amala politics once reigned supreme went to consult the godfather who is now of infamous memory. Looking straight into his eyes, the godfather asked him, "Can you kill"? Bewildered, the candidate shook his head. "Can you lie against another person while looking into his eyes with a straight face?", the godfather asked again. Looking more confused, the man shook his head again. "Can you take the Bible or Quran and swear falsely?", asked the godfather yet again. This time, the candidate's response was an emphatic no. "Then you can't be governor", the godfather chorused. I hope you understand my drift. Please don't give the task to Mohammed Ndume either. Mohammed Ndume can't lie with a straight face. The way he defended you the other day, he sounded like he did not believe his own words. I could almost bet I saw a smirk on his face. If he doesn't sound like Dino or talk like Dino, he can never be the right person. Moreover, he must be ready to die for you like Dino was ready to die for Saraki.

When you start attending your own court cases, also go with a coterie of House members. About 50 Senators followed Saraki to court, please ensure about 100 House Members follow you. The more, the better. Saraki went with 90 lawyers- you go with 180. There is strength in numbers. Let them even sing the popular Yoruba battle cry- "W'eyin re wo, bo o lomo ogun, bo o lomo ogun, W'eyin re wo' (look behind you and see if you have supporters or not). The more your supporters, the more believable you are. The larger your crowd, the more innocent you are. It is only the person who wants to lie or is guilty that will say only God is his witness. We, your crowd, are your witnesses. Let your crowd also carry banners and placards testifying to your integrity. Let the women carry placards that you are being persecuted because of the sound of your name. You may need to quickly give yourself a nickname. Have you forgotten that anytime Saraki enters the court, everyone shouts 'Oloye'? What will they call you as you make your triumphant entry into the court? Doggy baba? That doesn't sound nice at all. Please look for a nickname quickly.

I shouldn't be telling you this but it's part of the template. You need to start digging up some dirt about those assigned to your case. You know there is no high profile citizen of this country who doesn't have a skeleton in his or her cupboard- if you search well. If the judge's integrity looks padded, then he can't find you guilty of padding since you are paddies. If you can't smear the judge, smear anyone else- including the godfather. He must be behind your recent travails. He never actually forgave you for your ambition. Smear the whistle blower also. Let people know that a small thief should not accuse a bigger thief because of quarrel over sharing formula of their loot. And you can prop up another person to appeal the certificate issue. Those who have certificate issues should not throw stones or laugh at a distance. Play the victim. Release a statement. Pretend that the onslaught against your padding excellency is an onslaught against the legislature. In your statement, just like Saraki, don't forget to tell the world that you're also prepared to go to jail and be a happy guest if that is the alternative to defending our democracy. Please remember to quote Martin Luther King Jr also.

Now, if all the above don't serve the intended purpose, you can then drop the last joker. This one has never failed before. It is like what my people call 'ajebi'idan'- works like magic. Or 'ata ma tase'- hits the bull's eye. Still guessing? Here it is- start a rumour of impeachment of Mr President. Plant the news in some 'friendly' newspapers. Of course, they will quote 'reliable sources'. Is any source more reliable than you? After the rumour has been given wings, come out to deny and denounce it. Instruct your members to also denounce it. Now, pledge your loyalty to the President. That action will get them off your back as they are reminded of their 'mortality'.
It worked for Saraki. Once you do this, they will drop you like a bad habit and go for another person. And then you can breathe easy. Until another scandal breaks.

I wish you the best.

Yours Sincerely,

Agbonrandun Shoboyoke

HungerBAD:
Atiku again.

I honestly like this guy, but there comes a time when any sensible man should cut his losses and move on. There is something disturbing about the way Atiku is pursuing this Presidency thing. He is making it look like he is desperate to get power, and why?still puzzles me. You have been a top man at the Customs, you have been a Governor, you have been a Vice President, and for years the Presidency has eluded you.

Would it not be wise to call it quits?the way you are going about it, will make some say the "BORN TO RULE" toga, that has been given to the people from the North is right.

Tinubu Schemed you out of the Presidency in the APC, and Tinubu is still there with his very loyal party loyalist. Tinubu is an APC man, and has been consistently consistent in the same party, as compared to Atiku who has changed from the PDM, to the PDP and then the APC.

Atiku is not a stable man, and unstable people are not loyal people.

And this is why a lot of people are not comfortable with him, as they do not know where his loyalty is. My advice?be a Statesman, and be a power broker from behind the scene.

This Bromance between him and Mimiko to form a Political party is dead, even before the party is formed.

My friend, goan siddon!


What's the difference bewteen Atiku and Buhari in respect to zeal for the Presidency?

The plausible difference however is one is less bigotic, more educated and in tune with 21st century leadership requirements.

Honestly, anything to rescue Nigeria from the mediocre leadership we are bearing now is my vite.

Don't talk when everyone is talking.. especially in the Nigerian scenerio, many people say things they barely understand, they say those things to be among those who have been talking... Sometimes, watch before you close your eyes to assume balance..

Dino Melaye Vs Oluremi Tinubu: The Political Angle

"You're a thug and a dog that needs to be tamed". -Oluremi Tinubu

"I will beat you up, impregnate you and nothing will happen"- Dino

The dou alleged statements have been object of social vibration and viles within the debate pulse of the Nigerian populace for some days now. Sides have been switched and loyalty activated. Some brought the excuse for their positions on their feminist disposition which they believe a woman should be spoken to mannerly, regardless of the offense of the said party involved by their male counterparts.

Others swung the sentiments of personal hatred for the character of the personalities involved and their political orientation. Regardless of where the pendulum swings for the social Police, they may all be correct by and for their positions.

Critically, I shall look into the "issue" and not the "people", or perhaps, a little of the "person in the people".

Nigerians, known for their judgemental prowess and occupational condescension of afflicting social trending issues with triviality, cannot be always wrong. In the midst of their judgemental war, we are saddled with the punishment from dwindling oil prices, double digit inflation, high rate of unemployment, increase in social and civil crimes, disease, dollar hike and the negatives are infinitesimal.

The rationalist would be pushed to ask: how do they manage all these pineful issues along with judgemental occupations which in cynosure is trivial to national importance? The quickest shocker is that, these moralists appraise situations through their self acclaimed social values, religious piosity, humanistic views, feminism, meninism and the other schools of thoughts. However, a barometer to guage the hypocrisy of these social moral weaponry is the staggering level of social relapse, corruption, kidnappings, corporate intimidation etc, evident in our realities. So, how can we try hypocrisy with another hypocrisy?

Into the boulevard of Remi Tinubu and Dino Melaye, several political pundits stand a better chance to understand these personalities, a clear dissent from the louder voice of the general members of the society who are by mass detached from the real issues as most social issues are considered from the religious and propagandist angles portrayed by the media.

Remi Tinubu: An iron lady by reputation. According to political analysts, she's an amazon for the political commandeering of the Bourdilon King, her husband, fmr. Gov. Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, an All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain. This woman is without many blemish except that she's a loyal wife to the acclaimed owner of Lagos, Mr. Tinubu, who weilds the Jagaban title for his clientelist political power which attracts most politicians in Nigeria to his feet at constant prostration. Mrs. Tinubu was accused of been rigged to power through her husband's connection in order to grow his political empire. Without the blemish of the likes of Senator Stella Oduah, the acclaimed Bourdilon goddess has been the chief-eye of her husband in the senate.

Dino Melaye: Senator Dino Melaye has been in the political and social scene for sometime. Unfortunately, with allegations of domestic violence on his former wife and improper behaviour with some celebrities according to the Nigerian media. The extent of these allegation, however, is yet to die down because of his controversial flamboyancy when it comes to enjoying his success, either genuinely or dubiously acquired.

Nigerians are those type of people who hate the rich, for being poor. I can understand that sentiment; the elites have raped the people so dry that every potential wealthy man out there must have stolen and should be seen as an enemy of the average or poor man.

Dino Melaye is a controversial man, this controversy comes with how the media presents his personality to the people. He is yet to understand image management. To activate the media theory created for his personality, his political personality confirms some things suggested about him- thugish, brutish, doggish or whatever "ish" you can find. But testing that, who fights political battles in Nigeria without some bullet of bruteness, when all the gladiators share similar element(s)? But without sentiments, you'd need some thugishness and bruteness to win political contests in Nigeria, as the precedent of our politics have relied on thugish systems; politicians, structure and voters. Dino is an interesting personality to study, he's not the archetype hypocritical politicians who hide under fine oratory skills while their thugish, doggish and brutish souls rape the people of their natural rights and resources.

Getting into the real issue. Few things must be said about the feminists and religious contributors. For the feminist, which I am, a brand of feminism which is different from what I understand about feminism argues that "women are very fragile, they should be treated with utmost care and civility". Infact, one ravaging feminist said "It doesn't matter what happened, for Dino to talk about impregnating her, he's a demon". Another enthused "I'm happy for how Nigerians are criticising his attack on a woman, the truth is that he should have kept quiet no matter the level of provocation as a man".

Those are the kind of feminist voices louding this issue. Then we are pushed to ask this ethical question: Do we keep crying fragility at convenience and also cry for gender equality when it doesn't favour us? Feminism is a very complex school of thought, the variables are also complex as also the various personae who subscribe to the school. Continous education is required for those who practice another brand of feminism which takes out the "equal economic,political and social opportunities we seek".

The contextual question is: If we ask for equality for women to thrive because we believe they're naturally empowered to do so, should we not also apply that same banner to the men? If we expect Dino to be civil in the face of vociferous provocation from a woman, should a woman not also maintain same civility in the face of same?

If we agree that women should be treated better because they are just women, why should we go ahead and still seek equality for the said women which naturally division of being women have catered for? Those are the brand of fledging feminism, widely propagated by disgruntled elements who are very ignorant of what feminism is all about. The hypocrisy is nauseating. We cannot allow a social order that favours one group when we claim to be advocating for equal rights for all. What is good for the geese should be good for the gander- equality. People should be treated based on the content of their character, not sex. Don't demand for respect when you're not respectful.

Before we align ourselves to trivialities as this, a thesis of this crisis would make us understand some things. The real issue is not Remi Tinubu and Dino Melaye according to political pundits, a position I COMPLETELY agree with.

The discussion on the senate committee for that day was about the Senate Forgery allegations against Senate President, Bukola saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. The debate was about the charges been dropped. It was a FOR and AGAINST argument.

Except for the politically naive, understanding of the supermasters at the background of this debate was according to political pundits, Mr. Tinubu and Bukola Saraki. Its no news that Saraki' emergence as the senate president was not the intended plan of major APC stakeholders. Dino Melaye, being the man he is has also been a loyalist of Saraki right from his CCT/CCB trials, at some point, a lone man standing behind Saraki.

The Bourdilon king has not been happy with Saraki as the Senate President according to various media reports and APC party members, simply for his preferred candidate not to have emerged as the Senate President. Looking at the precedent of his trials, one cannot agree less. The thematic question to ask is this: if not for the avaricious set of politicians the Nigerian state is unfortunate with, how can we explain issues as this taking preeminence in the heat of social quagmire and economic-may-day?

While Dino wants the forgery case dropped, that may have offended Mrs. Tinubu who's at variance with Dino' position. And then, for the campaign language precedence laid overtime, which involves constant inuendos and vile missiles at political opponents, what other language do you expect them to understand? Those social despots are shameless as the people who elect them into representative capacities.

In a civil clime, the comments in the house, if it involves slander as the case maybe is sue-able. It is not a masculine and feminine affair as we understand it. To call another person a "dog" is very demeaning. To also threaten another with "assault" is also an issue for legal debate. However, the broker of the news, Sahara Reporters are known for their selective reportage which is careful with the Bourdilon king, even with their acclaimed investigative prowess. It is also becoming a shame for media outfits. to report trivial issues as this. To what intent? Of what public importance? Well, it was alleged they said.

The media mind control we are witnessing in this era is legendary, attention is being diverted from real issues to confuse the common man. I dare to ask again, of what public importance were the remarks made by Dino Melaye, reported by Sahara Reporters if not to cause diversion of attention from real issues?

Least I remind you, the 2016 budget cannot be implemented according to the FG, due to pausity of funds. .while you worry over Dino and Remi, inflation soars high to mock you.

Written by Promise Emmanuel, July, 2016.

Government is currently on the negotiation table with ASUU and SUG!

For those of you still tribalizing the issue, get your facts right. I wrote a News preceeding this demonstration as the Journalist managing SUG affairs two days ago.

It was reported on mainstream media like KogiReports, Ebira Reporters, Guardian, The Nation etc. See this:

http://www.kogireports.com/nans-sug-ksu-to-hold-protests-14th-july/



Protests to Hold on Thursday, We Support No Warring Party- Omepa Shaibu

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANs, is to team up with the Student Union Government, SUG, Kogi State University, Anyigba, in a joint protest at Ganaja Junction, Lokoja, Kogi State on the 14th of July, 2016.

The protest date which was announced by the Student Union Government’ President, KSU chapter, Comrade Omepa Philip Shaibu was disclosed after a closed door meeting, held on 10th July, 2016, at the institution with NANs President, Comrade Tijani Usman, who came from Owerri, Imo State.

The protest which slated for 14th of July, marks three months of industrial action embarked on by the Academic Staff of University Union, ASUU, Kogi State University chapter to press home demands for their 5 months salary arrears, which the Kogi State Government, under His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello has cleared 4 months out of the 5 months backlog, which according to the government, has met 80% of their demands. The Union, however, insisted on getting their demands in full as issues bothering on the 1 month outstanding salary and tax rebate lingered.

Responding to the PAYEE and Tax rebate, at a briefing, recently held in Lokoja, the State’ capital, The Chairman, ASUU, KSU branch, Dr. Daniel Aina reiterated the togetherness of the union to remain unbreakable until their full demands are met by the state government.

Reacting to the PAYEE and Tax rebate allegation from the government, he said “We are responsible citizens.

Sometimes ago, we were over taxed. Through series of protracted dialogues, consultations and negotiations, the government conceded to the exemption and granted the affected staff, a seven month tax holiday with effect from October 2015 to April 2016 via S/KGS/ADM/307/IV/876” he said. He further explained negligence to the tax issue by saying “Till date, this exemption has not been consummated. The other issue is the rebate which we are asking for. In our negotiation with government, we pointed out that KSU staff pay as high as 400% of what their counterparts pay within the state as well as neighbouring state universities.”

Meanwhile, Comrade Omepa Philip also dissociated himself and the SUG EXCOs from some controversial online reports which captured a cheque which carries the Public Relations Officer’ name, Comrade Ogiri Cosmos, fingering the Students Union body to have “compromised” their position. He hinted that the cheque was a personal affair of the P.R.O and has nothing to do with the strike or SUG’s position.

In his words” Concerning the cheque, I think the P.R.O is in the best position to speak for himself but on the part of SUG as a body there is nothing as such. If u check through the Facebook walls of the 20 executive members of the SUG, it is only the P.R.O who posted something of that nature”, he said. When we contacted the P.R.O, he explained that the cheque was a personal loan secured for entrepreneurship, disclosing that the “govt. House” caption as seen on the cheque is an address of the only Diamond Bank situated in the state Capital, which is close to the Government House. He assured all students that he couldn’t sell-out their interests for peanuts.

Omepa further enjoined all students to join the protest which the rendezvous point would be Ganaja junction by 6am on Thursday, 14th July, 2016, before onward march to the government house. He also disclosed how some visitors in solidarity will be part of the protest, “We agreed that Thursday 14th will be the protest day at Ganaja junction and those SUG Presidents and delegates passing from their various schools to Gombe State will join us in Lokoja for the protest”.

He further called on every member of the student community to join the protest, he said “My message to students is that we should turn up for the protest and fight for our fundamental human right, “The Right to education”. And we are not taking sides. We are not fighting for or against any of the parties. All we want is for the school to be reopened for academic activities”, he said.

On security of students during the protest, he also disclosed that “The SSS and Police have been notified on the event, and we will not leave that place until the Government and ASUU settle there that day or we will continue our protest”.

Reacting to the planned protest also, The SUG Vice President, Edogbo Anthony have also applauded the patriotism, maturity and discipline displayed by the students over the past three months, and advised them to continue to believe in the aluta spirit, that a lot has been done, a lot is being done right now, and that victory is certain.

Edogbo enjoined all students to turn out en-mass for the proposed protest as the collective educational dreams of all students depends on it. Attempts to reach the President, National Association Kogi State Students, NAKOSS, Comrade Abdulmalik Hadi proved abortive as he was unavailable at the time of filing this report.

YOUNGKAHUNA:
where are you guys? Ganaja Junction or Government House?

GANAJA junction. All roads blocked.

yemi2plus:


I want to believe that you're Emmanuel Promise, if yes, you're one journalist that I respect so much and I equally believe that you should know better the reason for my statement above.

For long, KSU students have agitated for a peaceful demonstration of this kind but what did we get? Nothing!

At a point, the President released a statement on his FB page challenging students who wanted a protest to start from their various departmental lecturers who request for slotting and sexually harass female students among others vices. Imagine such statement from a union President.

I commend their effort at mobilising students for this joint protest but I don't think the credit should go to them. I'll appreciate if you can include NANS in the thread title.

PS: If this thread doesn't make front page, it will be in history that NL denied and left us when we needed it most.

PS: My Sango strike anyone in advance that will come here to say the strike is ethically or politically motivated.

CC:

Mynd44
Seun
Lalasticlala

I understand your position, you're not far from the truth. I couldn't get NANs and SUG-KSU all up at the Headline. If you noticed, NANs was represented in the hook.

I have left my work just to attend to this protest, amidst losses and enormous pains from their past irresponsibility. But we are in the now, let's get the gaols first before correcting each other.

Keep up the struggle. Send me a mail after today please.


I have been on Nairaland for more than 5 years, this singular act is shocking. The negligence for educational struggle is appalling.


We will trend them on twitter soon for this injustice.


Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police and SSG to the state government arrived the scene and were chased out by students. The demand is for only Governor Yahaya Bello.

YOUNGKAHUNA:
The State Governor Is Really Not Sympathetic To The Plight Of The Students

Gov. Yahaya Bello is yet to come out.

rakabuba001:
instead if sleeping and playing cards on the road, you should do something that will send a stronger and better message. You can pick your books though.

What would you suggest?

It's a peaceful protest sir.

yemi2plus:


I repeat, the SUG is totally and completely inept.

The protest was not organised by them, rather, they only joined the protest by NANS.

Bros, aren't they protesting along? We are talking of ongoing event, you're talking of SUG.

See more pictures as they turn Ganaja junction into Inter Faculty Whot Playing Ground. Its only the Governor that is needed.

sweetyme001:
You people are confusing the mod. Is there any school named KOGI state university in KOGI state? Last time i checked it was PAAU!! How would the mod take this to front page when you don't know the name of your school. you need to be on strike for a long time to restructure your school.

The name change has not been effected. It was a proposal yet to be passed in the State' assembly. The law establishing the school is Kogi State University bill.

The MOD is not confused. We the students of Kogi state university will not also forget what Nairaland did today. If it were Western schools, they would have been represented.

Many students are angry on the School's Facebook group. When we needed Nairaland most, to get attention from Nigerians, we were denied. This post is over 3 hours old.

sweetyme001:
You people are confusing the mod. Is there any school named KOGI state university in KOGI state? Last time i checked it was PAAU!! How would the mod take this to front page when you don't know the name of your school. you need to be on strike for a long time to restructure your school.

The name change has not been effected. It was a proposal yet to be passed in the State' assembly. The law establishing the school is Kogi State University bill.

Security officials are at the scene and the protest is going on smoothly. . No violence so far.