Buhari gave me N30.8 billion to pay salary arrears Bello

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has disclosed that President
Muhammadu Buhari gave him a bail out of about N30.8 billion to
clear salary arrears of workers in the state.

He insisted that his government is up- to- date in the payment
of salaries.

The governor, who spoke with newsmen after a meeting of the
National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC and all those who
contested the party’s governorship primary, also asked the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) to look inward in the search for those who
attacked the venue of their primary election rather than blaming
him.

He said: “As regard the issue of news making the round that Kogi
state is owing salaries, I want to categorical state that, my two
predecessors inherited salary arrears.

“It is a problem I inherited when I assumed office. But I want
to announce to you today that Kogi does not owe any worker salary
at all.

‘’We have been able to clear all workers salary and we are up to
date.

‘’As a matter of fact, the last primary election that was held
on August 29, we paid the salaries of August. That is to tell you
that we are up to date as far as salary is concerned.

“The issue of us owing up to 38 months’ salary arrears before we
cleared it was all false and lies.

‘’We did owe up to that, what we were owing at that time was
between four to five months.

“As I speak with you now, Mr. President graciously approved
bailout of N30.8 billion for us and our National Chairman helped me
to facilitate the release and the fund which has been fully applied
and salaries are cleared including pension arrears. We do not owe
any salary.”

Responding to the allegation by the PDP that he was behind the
attack on their primary, Bello said: “I am a member of the APC and
not PDP.

“We gave a level playing ground to all the aspirants from all
political parties to carry out their activities freely within the
state.

“They moved round the entire state and we provided security for
them and ensure that they were safe.

“Let me tell you that my colleague, the governor of Adamawa
state who chaired their primary committee consulted me before he
came and informed me that he was coming to conduct the
election.

“I provided his accommodation, his feeding and some other
logistics within the state to ensure that he had a hitch free
exercise.

“I conducted the security people round the stadium and I can
tell you that my security chiefs in Kogi state are excellent
people.

“When we conducted our exercise on the 29th of August, we had a
larger number of delegates than what the PDP had and we conducted a
hitch free exercise.

“I was the first to arrive the stadium at about 9.00am and as
early as 10.00am, we started our exercise and finished everything
before 10.00pm and left the stadium.

“That is how efficient we are and so, they should not make
excuses for their inefficiency or for their brigandage.

“I am sure that you know that a lot of them have record of
criminality and some of them even have criminal cases in court. So,
they are known for such activities.

“This is not the first time they are attacking themselves. They
attacked themselves during their congresses the ward to the state
level.

“So if they are attacking themselves again, why should anybody
point accusing fingers at me? I think they should look inward and
solve their problems.”

On the outcome of the meeting and assurances received, he said:
“All my brothers and sisters have agreed to queue behind me and
help me in the forthcoming election to make sure that APC becomes
victorious in Kogi State and continue to deliver the dividends of
democracy to our people.

“I want to express appreciation to my brothers and sisters. Very
many of them already have sent me text message of congratulation
and are willing to join hands with me to execute the election
smoothly.

“Every person that participated in the exercise and those who
wished to participate in the exercise will be carried along in one
way or the other. It is not necessarily choosing one of them as my
deputy.”

E-Registration: NIS Registers 2,100
Migrants

The Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Muhammad
Babandede MFR wishes to inform the general public particularly
migrant community in Nigeria that the on-going migrant
e-registration exercise embarked upon by the Service will be a
continuous process, as it is part of the Service’s statutory
responsibilities prescribed by the Immigration Regulation 2017.

The Service embarked on this exercise as part of its day to day
scheduled duties in line with Section 22 (1 & 2) of the
Immigration Regulation 2017 which empowers the Service to maintain
a register of all “Immigrants” and also empowers the Comptroller
General to keep in the registry, information and particulars of an
Immigrant as he may time to time direct. This clarification becomes
necessary against the misconception between the amnesty period
declared by the President and the duration of the Exercise.

Thus far, the Exercise is yielding results as over 2,100
migrants have been registered at the NIS Headquarters alone, while
registration centres at Lagos, Rivers, Delta, Ogun, Ekiti, Kwara,
Cross River, and others are steadily following in a bid to achieve
a nation-wide registration Exercise.

The CGI hereby calls on all migrants staying beyond 90 days in
Nigeria, whether regular or otherwise (including those without
proper documents) to take advantage of the 6-months amnesty period
given by the President which lasts between 12th July,2019 to 11th
January,2020 and register at the nearest Migrant e-Registration
centres in their places of residence.

Signed
DCI Sunday James pcc
Service Public Relations Officer
For: Comptroller General of Immigration