EXCLUSIVE: Kogi political aides groan over 3 months unpaid salaries

Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s administration is owing all political aides and office holders salaries for three months, CAPITAL POST has learnt.

Political aides which include, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants of the governor, those attached to Commissioners and the 21 Local Government Council Chairmen and other political office holders were last paid their salaries and allowances in January, 2023.

A source who pleaded anonymity disclosed to our correspondent in Lokoja on Thursday, saying that, “we haven’t got our salaries and allowances since February, 2023, as we are silently groaning.”

Speaking on reason salaries of political aides haven’t been paid, he said, “it might have been due to political development leading to April 14, governorship primary election.”

He said: “You know what it means for the ruling party in a State to participate in its primary election that is highly competitive. It involves a lot of funds.”

The source revealed that political aides are groaning silently as no one could speak out for fear of being sacked or attacked.

Meanwhile, checks by our correspondent in Lokoja revealed that the December, 2022 Federation Account Allocation Committee shared over N990 billion to the three tiers of government on January 18, 2023.

FAAC at its meeting on February 20, 2023 again shared a whopping sum of N760.174 billion being January allocation to the three tiers of government.

Also, on March 23, 2023 the sum of N714.629 billion was shared by FAAC to FG, States and Local Government Councils being the allocation for the month of February, 2023.

The allocation for the month of March, 2023 was distributed to FG, States and LGCs on April 20, 2023 to the tune of N714.629 billion.

Speaking with Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Evangelist Kingsley Fanwo, he said: “Please allow this cup to pass over me.”

“It not three months. I will not say anything on this.’

At the time of filing this report, the allocation for the month of April 2023 is being awaited.