By Divine Sam
Austin Okai, the 2023 House of Representatives candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, has advised civil servants against expressing excessive gratitude to Governor Usman Ododo for the payment of salaries. He emphasized that salaries are a right earned through hard work, not a favor from the government.
Recent reactions from Kogi State workers highlighted their joy over receiving their October salaries, which now reflect the newly approved minimum wage of ₦72,500. Sunday Baba, a Director in the Ministry of Works, described Ododo’s administration as a significant positive change and expressed gratitude for the timely payments.
In contrast, Okai criticized this sentiment, urging workers to refrain from praising the government, stating, “You have every right to receive it without needing to thank the government.” He pointed out that the public perception of workers praising the administration could be seen as misplaced, especially given past issues with salary mismanagement under former Governor Yahaya Bello. Okai asserted that workers deserve their salaries without being seen as reliant on governmental goodwill.