Niger State, Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has reassured the state civil service and the entire public that government has not cut workers’ salaries.
The current salary regime, he said was informed by circumstances beyond the control of government adding that steps taken were in the interest of both the state, the civil servant and the entire Nigerlites.
The governor who spoke at the weekend in Minna, the state capital while reacting to allegation that state government has reduced its workers salaries, said no such action has been taken by his administration.
He said: “We are faced with a critical situation. Our monthly receipt from the federation allocation has been on a constant decline, the drastic fall in global price for crude oil and the continued heinous activities of the Niger Delta Avengers on our oil installations have are affecting our resources.
“These are challenges beyond our control. These are issues we have cannot influence. But we must continue to forge ahead and this we must do by ensuring that none of the sectors is left to suffer.
“We have no intention to cut salary. We have no intention to suffer anybody. It is just that this is a period of sacrifice. It is a phase in our national life. We shall surely overcome this challenge”.
The governor pointing out that the 70/30 percent ratio being used of receipt from Federation Allocation was to ensure that both workers’ salaries and infrastructural development are not left to suffer in the face of dwindling resources of the state.
He lamented that despite subjecting government decision and action to wide consultations with the organised labour and other stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders and civil societies, some mischief makers have misconstrued government good intention.
Sani Bello noted that despite the state’s lean allocatiion government was able to pay 70 percent salary across the board to all workers last month (June) and reaffirmed that their welfare will continue to attract priority attention of his administration.
He added that government is intensifying efforts at improving its internally generated revenue by looking inward for other sustainable sources of avenues, reduce cost of governance, block leakages and eliminate wastages in government activities.
The governor also disclosed that frantic efforts are on to retrieve state stolen fund, assuring that no stone will be left unturned to recover every dime of the state that was illegally taken.
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