By Andy Asemota
The false alarm raised by the immediate past Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, that his successor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, won’t be able to pay the government’s workforce in November and December this year’s received boos and jeers from the workers as Okpebholo lives up to his excited supporters billing.
News emerged last month that Obaseki through his hitman, Crusoe Osagie, had foreseen gloomy days ahead of Edo Workers that he handed over to Okpebholo on November 12, 2024.
Obaseki’s talisman as ever, since his opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was overwhelmingly defeated by the All Progressive Congress (APC), hinged his dooms day predictions on the suspension of revenue collection from petty traders and commercial drivers in the state as Governor Okpebholo geared up to halt the abuse inherent in the old revenue collection process.
The baseless fake news claimed that the monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Edo would fall from eight billion naira in October, 2024, to a meagre two billion naira in November and perhaps lower this December following the suspension of the state’s revenue collection, thus Okpebholo was said to be on course to fail the Edo workforce in meeting their wage bill, including his commitment to contractors and services providers.
But that fake news has left Obaseki’s tops among of nay sayers misfiring about Okpebholo administration’s capacity and competence.
A director in the state public service, who simply identified himself as Omoregie, shortly after he received a bank alert in respect of December salary on Wednesday, 18th December, told ABC NEWS in Benin, as his subordinates burst into praises for Okpebholo, they nicknamed Akpakos, and had nothing but jeers for Obaseki over the prompt payment of their salaries: “This Yuletide season will be exciting one for us in Edo State contrary to the predictions of the purveyors of fake news in the state.
“Let me assure you that His Excellency, Governor Okpebholo, is on course to fulfil his promise to give the state workforce a 13th month salary in the next few days.”
This optimism, he explained, is based on the confidence Okpebholo had given them to discharge their roles and ignore attacks on the present administration by it’s detractors.
Similarly, a female computer operator in the civil service, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “We never expected to be paid so soon. God bless Okpebholo and continue to rubbish the evil machinations of his opponents. This government has demonstrated goodwill for all in the state, I confident his expectations will never be dashed.”
. . END . .
About The Author
