As governor, his introduction of a
scientific approach, tailored towards creating the right environment for
unlocking the natural and human potentials of the state has no doubt
been laid by Capt Wada administration.
The Governor’s finesse, prudent use
of resources, was a departure from the norm where money is shared to
thugs, with the governor preferring to invest in positive youth
development, are reasons behind the dislike, and the smear campaign to
run him down.
Amidst several challenge Captain
Wada met on assumption of office, four years down the line, and taking
stock, it is safe to say that by the available records, the verdict has
been that of good performance, devoid of noise making by the Wada
administration.
The governor’s desire for quality
work in the execution of projects across the state has ensured the
putting in place of a vigorous procurement process devoid of the usual
undercurrent for contract award to unqualified contractors and for
political patronage. This is another reason he is at logger heads with
some persons. •Realizing the nature of revenue accruing to the State on
assumption as governor, Captain Idris Wada made the payment of salaries
a priority. It is important to state that the State is one among
states in the federation that is not seriously indebted to its
workforce. As at time of this report, the workers are only owed two
months, yet the state could not for political reasons access its bail
out funds to pay workers their arrears.
Averagely and since 2012 when he
assumed office, the state receives between N3.5billion to N3.7billion as
allocation. The wage bill of the state is put at N3.2billion, a figure
that barely leaves the government with a little above N200million to run
the state after salaries have been paid.
Presently, the Staff strength of
Teachers in the state is put at 33,000 with an expected wage bill put at
N1.3 billion. More than that amount is however required to pay the
N18000 minimum wage.
Similarly, The total staff strength
of the entire Kogi State Council workers stands at 26,542 as at March
end 2015. The expected Monthly wage bill needed to offset the workers
salaries at that level of government is put at about N1.6billion.
Unfortunately the councils do not
get up to that. But in all, all councils based on what is available are
up to date in salary payment, despite the complain of percentage
payment.
The administration has since
assumption of office ensured that funds were committed to the completion
of inherited projects. At the last counts, the administration has not
only completed payment for the greater lokoja water project, the
confluence stadium, the phase two of the state secretariat, confluence
beach hotels, several roads projects it inherited have been completed.
For record, the Capt Wada administration has so far completed 58 road
projects across the state. Others are still on going.
The governor also realizing that the
monthly allocation to the state was dwindling, put in place measures
that has seen to the astronomical increase in the states internally
generated revenue from a paltry N150 million it met on assumption of
office to an average of between N500 million monthly.
Also realizing the enormity of the
work to be done, especially in building the essential infrastructure,
Captain Idris Wada approached the capital market. Having diligently
scaled the hurdle, despite frantic efforts to frustrate his good
intention by the opposition, he was able to secure N8billion out of the
N20billion bond he applied for.
Towards ensuring prudence in the
utilization of the Bond, Captain Wada decided to access the fund in four
trenches of N5 billion.
Today, all the iconic project listed
to secure the bond are all on-going simultaneously and are at their
various stages of completion. Some of the on-going projects being
financed by the bond fund include the upgrading of the welcome to Lokoja
road through the international market.
The road design is fitted with well
laid drainages, sidewalks and street light. When completed it would no
doubt add to the aesthetic beauty of the state capital.
Also being funded by the bond fund
is the 16 km Otokiti Ganaja bye pass road. This road too when completed
will open a new part of Lokoja for development.
Worthy of mention amongst the bond
projects is the 500 housing units at Ganaja and Crusher areas of Lokoja,
the Lokoja bus terminal, a first of its kind since the creation of the
state. when completed will serve as a hub for the Kogi transport
project which has already kicked off with pilot project of the first
publicly subsidized transport system in the nation, tagged the Lokoja
city bus service.
Still on some of the iconic projects
on-going in the state is the seventeen storey Kogi House project in
Abuja as well as the establishment of thirty five other water schemes
across the state. The state under Capt Wada in the last four years has
been safe and sound, it has remained a destination of choice for
investors, culminating into the signing of about eighteen MoU’s by the
state government with reputable organizations at home and
internationally.
Despite the challenge posed by funds
to the administration, the present administration is building a
University Teaching Hospital in Ayingba, the Diagnostic and Imaging
Centre in Lokoja alongside the building of five zonal hospitals as well
as the renovation of all general hospitals across the state are some
remarkable achievements of the present administration.
Mention must also be made of the
remodeling of the Kogi Hotels, and all the state government lodges as
some monumental achievements the opposition close their eyes to, all in
attempt to score cheap political point.
The positive impact made by the
Captain Wada’s administration when assessed amidst available resources,
clearly shows the quality leadership and sacrifice that has been made in
placing the state on a sound footing.
Capt Wada’s style of governance is
one that has demystified and simplified leadership from the exotic
heights, a reason some persons find convenient to spread falsehood,
misinform the public, deliberately paint the governor black, with the
intention that it may translate into their political fortune.
But having governed with an
unblemished record in the last four years, Captain Wada has left no
stone unturned in achieving the dream of taking Kogi State into the
comity of twenty most developed states in Nigeria by the year 2020. For
those who are used to business as usual, the man Capt Wada may not be
popular and is deemed not to have performed as long as their pockets are
not laced with naira and kobo. But if the truth must be told, Capt Wada
remains the toast of the common man, whose interest his policies and
programmes has protected in the last four years.
Mike Abu is the Spokesperson to Kogi State Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi
Credits: Kogi Reports
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