…Implements 40-year career service, 65-year retirement age for healthcare professionals

There is excitement within Kogi State civil service community as Governor Usman Ododo on Thursday announced series of policy reforms, aimed at enhancing the welfare of the people.

Among the new policies by the governor is approval of additional one-year tax relief for workers in the state, aimed at cushioning the impact of prevailing economic challenges and reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers.

The extended tax relief builds on the initial tax holiday introduced in October 2024, coinciding with the implementation of the new national minimum wage of N72,500.

The tax relief, initially set to end in October 2025, will now run until October 2026.

Speaking during the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre in Lokoja, Governor Ododo explained that the decision was informed by the rise in the cost of living and the need to support families adapting to current economic realities.

A statement issued on Thursday by Ismaila Isah, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and sent to Nationwide Reports, quoted Ododo to have said that his administration understands the economic realities the people face and that practical steps are being taken to mitigate the effects.

“The additional one-year tax relief is a continuation of the policy we launched alongside the new minimum wage in October last year”, he stated.

Governor Ododo also announced the implementation of a 40-year career service policy and a retirement age of 65 years for professional health workers in the state. This aligns with national policy trends and aims to retain experienced personnel in the health sector.

As part of efforts to improve infrastructure for workers, the Governor approved the provision of a water facility at the State Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Lokoja, known as the Comrade Onuh Edoka Labour House. The facility is expected to ensure consistent water supply for the Labour House and surrounding communities.

Reaffirming his administration’s priorities, Governor Ododo assured workers of continued timely payment of salaries, harmonized pensions, and gratuities, noting that workers’ welfare remains central to his administration’s agenda.

He also highlighted ongoing government initiatives including free healthcare for pensioners, expanded investments in education, health and agricultural development programmes targeting youth and women across the state.

The Governor called for sustained cooperation between the state government and organized labour, emphasizing that industrial peace and harmony are vital for inclusive growth and development.

In his remarks, Kogi State NLC Chairman, Comrade Gabriel Amari, expressed appreciation for the government’s proactive stance on workers’ welfare, including prompt salary payments, the implementation of the new minimum wage, pension harmonization, and continuous training and retraining of workers.

He also commended the administration for appointing labour leaders to strategic roles and for including organized labour in key state decision-making processes.

The Head of Service, Dr. Elijah Evinemi, lauded the Governor’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and urged citizens to support the administration’s efforts to ease the economic burden on workers and the general populace.