Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has reiterated the commitment of his administration to the welfare of civil servants in the state.
Ododo gave the assurance while speaking to newsmen shortly after observing his Eid-el-Kabir prayer on Sunday at his Okene hometown.
The governor said the government was carrying out its responsibilities to the citizens and not doing them a favour.
“We are doing what we are supposed to do as a government for the people of Kogi State, especially the civil servants.
“When your people are happy, they will be so excited to engage in their duties and do their job diligently, thereby increasing productivity.
“So, it is part of our responsibilities to take care of our people, and we are doing it with the help of God and with the support of Mr President,” he said.
On security, the governor warned criminal elements to stay away from the state, stating that Kogi is not a fertile ground for criminality.
The governor said the perpetrators behind the kidnapped students of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, came to test his administration’s capacity but faced the consequences.
“They came to test the waters, to find out what our reactions would be, and truly, they faced the consequences of their actions.
“Kogi is not a fertile land for anybody to come and trade free in terms of crimes and criminality.
“They have come and they have seen the results; if they come back in their numbers, they will go back in their zeros.
“I can’t tell you what awaits them, but I hope they will never try it again,” Ododo said.
He said the government was able to rescue 29 out of the 31 kidnapped CUSTECH students, adding that unfortunately, two were killed by the abductors.
Ododo prayed to God to rest their souls and comfort their family members.
“Security is one of our top priorities and responsibilities in Kogi, which is why we are doing everything possible with the support of Mr President to make sure that every soul in this state is protected and secured,” he said.
He appreciated heads of all security agencies as well as the vigilantes and hunters for working in synergy to protect the lives and property of the citizenry.
Ododo commended President Tinubu for all his efforts for the nation and urged Nigerians to continue to support him by keying into all his programmes and policies.
“I urge the people of Kogi and entire Nigeria to continue to pray for our leaders, especially Mr President, so that we can jointly pull ourselves out of this inherited economic crisis,” he said.
The governor admonished the people to use the Sallah celebration to remember the less privileged among them by extending their hands of kindness and support to them.
“It is a period that encompasses sacrifice and submission to the will of God Almighty.
“I urge everyone of us to continue to be good ambassadors of our dear state and the country at large,” Ododo said.
