The Zamfara State Rescue Movement (ZSRM) has dismissed a press statement issued by the factional All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary in Zamfara State, Yusuf Idris Gusau, on the implementation of the minimum wage of ₦70,000 by Governor Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Former senior special assistant to the immediate past governor of the state, Hon. Lawal Usman Idris, who is also coordinator of the movement, accused the APC of being envious of the achievements of Governor Lawal barely two years in office which, he said, surpassed the four years of the immediate past APC-led government.
He said the factional APC spokesman, Yusuf Gusau, mischievously stated that the payment of the much-awaited ₦70,000 minimum wage by Governor Lawal was a deceit to hoodwink civil servants that he is an action governor who has their welfare at heart.
“APC was right to state that Dr Dauda Lawal is an action governor, a compassionate leader who is in a hurry to fulfill his campaign promises to the good people of Zamfara State. To however state that the governor is working hard, particularly in the implementation of the minimum wage to civil servants as a ‘deceit’ to gain their support is a deliberate distortion of Dr Lawal’s blueprint for the transformation of Zamfara State which he met in a deplorable condition.”
“Freedom of expression is a fundamental right, Governor Dauda Lawal’s government welcomes it, but to distort facts and try to incite citizens against the government they overwhelmingly voted into office and still support is unpatriotic and counterproductive,” he said.
He said that it is on record that Dr Dauda Lawal is the first governor in Zamfara State to implement a national minimum wage currently at ₦70,000 monthly at a time most state governments opposed it as unattainable.
He also noted that Governor Lawal promptly paid ₦13.6 billion backlog of pension to senior citizens who depended on it for survival having diligently served the state.
“Four months civil servants outstanding salary was promptly paid. ₦1.8bn withheld entitlements to the Ministry of Justice, Justices and Khadis were paid, all benefits to former members of the State House of Assembly were settled, funds to Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state withheld for two years by the Matawalle’s administration were released,” he noted.
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