Bello also said that he would commence prompt payment of salaries of workers in the state public service from January 2018.

He made the promise on Saturday at the commemoration of the 110th birthday of the Odeyani-Anebira, Alhaji Audu Otonoku and his eight years on the throne as the Otonoku in Lokoja.

“As from January next year, we shall be paying all our cleared civil servants salaries as and when due. I want to appreciate God that good days are coming to the people of Kogi,” he said.

The governor traced the genesis of the delay in the payment of workers’ salaries to huge debts which he claimed his administration inherited from the immediate past administration.

According to him, the corruption in the state civil service and the need to restore sanity to the service also account for the delay.

Bello, represented by Mumuni Okara, his Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said that the state government had done a lot to restore discipline into the service.

He said that the state government had increased the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N350 million monthly to N1.2 billion.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Finance, Idris Asiru, said that the state government had discovered and eliminated from the payroll over 2,000 names of workers with fake certificates.

Asiru said that the state government needed N30 billion to clear salaries and arrears of all workers that have been cleared.

He said that the governor had given him directive to source for fund for the payment, assuring the workers that he would carry out the governor’s directive.

Earlier, the Odeyani-Anebira commended Bello for his “giant strides in security, infrastructure development and civil service reform aimed at sanitising the service’’.

The monarch also praised his title holders (Daudus) for maintaining peace and harmony among the Ebira living in Lokoja.

He also lauded the executive council of Ebira Peoples Association (EPA) for its contribution toward the development of Ebiraland.

Odeya-Onebira was born to the ancient family of Otonoku of Adangara clan in 1907 and was installed on Sept. 18, 2010 in Lokoja.

Reeling out his achievements, Otonoku said he had been able to foster unity among Ebira residents and maintained peaceful coexistence of the Ebiras with other ethnic groups in Lokoja.

He, however, called for building of a befitting palace for him and provision of vehicle befitting his status.

Otonoku also called for the empowerment of Ebira women and youths to make them self-reliant.

Highpoints of the occasion were the conferment of chieftaincy titles on some prominent citizens of Ebiraland and citizens of other tribes.

Various groups displayed the rich cultural heritage of Ebiraland, among others.

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Bello, who made the announcement in a broadcast in Lokoja on Wednesday accused trade unionism in tertiary institutions of impeding government holistic reforms.

He said he had respect for the rights of all citizens to responsibly associate and pursue their welfare within the ambits of the law and norms of a democratic society.

The governor said his administration had made tremendous progress in resolving all issues relating to adequacy and frequency of remuneration for all categories of Civil Servants in the State.

He reiterated his respect for the rights of labour unions in relations to the responsibilities of the owners and proprietors of tertiary academic institutions.

Bello, however, regretted that the state-owned tertiary institutions’ trade unionism had let itself to impeding government’s efforts to carry out “holistic reforms in the civil service through its unjustified industrial actions.

“The branch of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has proceeded on yet another strike for alleged non-payment of salaries and emoluments irrespective of clear evidence of government’s good faith and efforts contradicting JAC’s position,” he said.

The governor said there was evidence of massive embezzlement at Kogi State Polytechnic’s earnings in excess of N157m committed under JAC’s nose.

Bello assured that his government remained committed to meeting its obligations to all genuine employees of the state as promptly as available resources would permit.

“Government will work to ensure uninterrupted academic calendar, henceforth, in all basic education, secondary and tertiary academic institutions in Kogi State.

“For the avoidance of doubt, and except where specified otherwise, references herein to the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Trade Unions of Tertiary Institutions owned by Kogi State are referred to:

“The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP). The Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU). The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and The Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN).

“Others are the National Associations of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and any other Union operating in any tertiary Institutions owned by the Kogi State Government,” he said.

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In a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Lokoja, both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) said the decision was taken in solidarity with the affected workers and pensioners.

The statement was jointly signed by the state Chairman of the NLC, Mr Onu Edoka and his TUC counterpart, Ranti Ojo.

According to unions, the non-payment of salary to a large number of workers and pensioners over the past 14 months has destroyed the civil service and the workforce of the state.

They expressed concern over the increasing hardship being faced by workers and pensioners affected by outcome of the screening exercise conducted by the state government.

“The non-payment of salary and pension, has led to the loss of lives and also brought untold hardship to workers in Kogi State,” they noted.

They unions also decried the refusal by government to make available to the organised labour, copy of the report of the screening appeal committee, describing the measure as a deliberate move to prevent the labour from taking a position.

“In the face of all these negative happenings, it is therefore advisable for workers not to make themselves available for any act of molestation, harassment and intimidation by any security agency.

“All affiliate unions are to adhere strictly to this resolution, which is in solidarity with workers and pensioners that have not been paid in the last 14 months, including those that have lost their lives during the period,” they said.

In his reaction to the complaints, Kingsley Fanwo, Director – General, Media and Strategy, said government would convene a meeting of stakeholders soon to take a common position on the report of the staff screening and verification committee.

He explained that the objective of the screening was not to sack workers, but reform the civil service for optimum performance.

He however said that those who secured employment with fake documents would not be spared.

The Federal Government has declared May 1 as public holiday in line with the United Nations decision that the day be set aside every year to celebrate and appreciate workers worldwide.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), gathered that gunmen surrounded the house after midnight and opened fire from different directions.

Two of the senator’s vehicles parked in the house were damaged, though Melaye himself was not harmed.

Melaye, (APC-Kogi West), was in his country home at Ayetoro-Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area for the Easter holiday at the time of the attack

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP William Aya told NAN that the police received a distress call from the senator at about 1 a.m. and immediately responded.

He said the hoodlums escaped before the police arrived, thereby making any arrest impossible.

Aya said the Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu had set up an investigation committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to unravel those behind the attack.

On his part, Melaye said the hoodlums arrived at about midnight and started shooting sporadically at the main building in the compound.

He said the shooting lasted for almost one hour, adding that apart from the building riddled with bullets, two of his vehicles were damaged.

The senator said he suspected Taufiq Isa, the Administrator of Ijumu Local Government to be behind the attack.

According to him, the attack was politically motivated, because of his criticism of the State Government.

He said: “I got a rousing welcome from Kabba to my home town on Friday and I know it angered the power that be in the state which mobilised for this assassination attempt on my life.

“At about midnight, we started hearing gunshots. They fired more than 200 rounds of bullets into the house. This attempt to kill me will not stop me from speaking the truth.

“If I speak the truth, I will die. If I lie, I will die. I’ve decided to speak the truth and die. I’m not afraid of death. I only respect men, I don’t fear them.

“I am championing an administrative cause. I will continue to speak and be the voice to the voiceless. I’m not deterred; I remain resolute to make Kogi better. Noting will stop me from coming home.”

Melaye also chided the police for not responding quickly to his distress call, saying that the house of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the town was a stone-throw from the scene of the attempt on his life.

“The DPO did not come to my house until three hours later. Even the area Commander in Kabba was not notified until I called the Commissioner of police. I suspect a Satanic collaboration between Taufiq Isa and the police in Aiyetoro because the duo held a meeting two days ago.

“Only God will protect us in this country but definitely not the police”, he said.

In a swift reaction, Isa denied having a hand in the attempt on the life of the Senator, saying that he had been busy for sometime taking care of his sick wife.

“I’ve never been a violent man. My running battle with Dino Melaye, if any, is because I have asked him to stop villifying the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

“Let him (Dino) prove it. I lost my uncle a week ago; I’m still attending to my sick wife and busy supervising the APC re- registration programmes. I’m a democrat and law abiding. I challenge Dino to prove his case,” he said

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In a statement issued by the committee’s Spokesman, ayo Adeyeye in Abuja on Monday, Makarfi said that PDP attention had been drawn to the untoward, unconstitutional and indiscriminate arrest and detention of PDP members and supporters nationwide.

He said that the PDP members were arrested and detained on phantom charges.

Makarfi said that Mr Salisu Mamuda, the Chairman of PDP Jigawa chapter was on Feb. 4, arrested for criticising the state government against spending N400 million to entertain defectors from PDP to APC.

He also recalled that Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, a 2015 PDP Governorship Aspirant in Lagos also was arrested by men of the Department of State Service on Feb. 17.

He said that Gbadamosi was arrested for allegedly exposing the Forex racketeering at the Central Bank of Nigeria, adding that on March 3, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, a PDP Chieftain in Kogi was arrested on trump-up charges and detained illegally for “criticising the wrong policies, bad governance and non-performance’’ of Gov. Yahaya Bello.

“Just yesterday, April 9, 2017, Mr Austin Okai, a PDP Youth leader and frontline critic of the Yahaya Bello’s APC-led government in Kogi State, was arrested by men of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squared (SARS) on phantom petitions by some cronies of the governor.’’

Makarfi added that there were also reports of indiscriminate arrest and detention of Nigerians in Kaduna, Edo, and Nasarawa, among.

He described the indiscriminate arrest of PDP members as “absurd, disheartening and a serious threat’’ to Nigeria’s hard earned democracy.

“Nigerians cannot and should not be arrested and detained indiscriminately for criticising and holding government accountable.

“Constructive criticism is the primary responsibility of opposition in a democracy all over the world and Nigeria cannot be an exception.

“We will mobilise Nigerians at all levels to fight against the use of arms in a democratic system to ridicule and intimidate citizens of this country.’’

Makarfi called on all civil rights organisation across the country and in the Diaspora to rise to the defence of Nigerians.

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Saraki who made the call in his opening speech at a five-day Retreat for National Assembly top management personnel in Lokoja, said the call became necessary because time had come to draw a line between the old order and the change the country craved for.

The Senate President said it was time for the management to live up to its own responsibilities to deliver effective and efficient services in pursuit of good governance.

He, however, assured that it was no longer business as usual in the national assembly.

Saraki called for synergy between members of staff and legislators of the National Assembly to ensure efficient services.

“If we hope to provide an efficient National Assembly; if we intend to bring accountability and transparency to the National Assembly; we cannot do it without you.

“So, whatever we do as legislators of the National Assembly, distinguished ladies and gentlemen in this hall, you have a key role to play.

“At no time in history has the need for synergy, purpose and drive to embrace a full effect more rife than now. It is time for us to accept that change has come, not by words but by action.

“Nigerians expect more from us, and NASS is fully committed to meeting its obligations,” he said.

The Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Omolori, in his opening remarks said the retreat was to ensure effective synergy between the management and personnel of NASS.

He also said that retreat, with the theme “Repositioning the National Assembly for Effective Service Delivery”, was for the participants to brainstorm on a direction for the country’s legislature.

The clerk said it was also for the capacity building for the management staff, in view of the role expected of them in the dynamics of changing times.

“We must be adequately prepared to lead through the changes,’’ he said.

Sani-Omolori further said the retreat was to create an atmosphere of participatory inclusiveness in the service delivery by the participants and create concrete and positive attitudinal change for effective service.

The clerk reiterated the need to improve the general working condition of members of staff of the National Assembly and upgrade facilities for the overall effectiveness of the personnel in the discharge of their duties.

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said training of the management personnel of NASS was paramount, in view of the position they occupied.

He was represented by the member representing Lokoja/Kogi/Koton-Karfe Federal Constituency in the House, Alhaji Buba Jubril.

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, in his remarks, stressed the need for the upscale of the capacity of the management staff of the National Assembly.

Bello, who described them as the engine room of NASS, however, urged the legislators to treat Kogi issues dispassionately in their legislative functions.

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