‘Paying Salaries Is Your Duty, Not an Achievement’ — Natasha Akpoti Tackles Kogi Governor

Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has criticised Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo over what she described as a lack of development in the state, saying the payment of workers’ salaries should not be celebrated as a major achievement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan made the remarks while speaking at a gathering in Okene, Kogi State, where she questioned the state government’s development record despite the funds allocated to it.

“Only thugs are being rewarded. No development. Paying salaries is not an achievement. Look at what Abia State Governor Alex Otti is doing in his state, yet you are boasting about paying salaries in Kogi,” she said.

The senator argued that paying workers was a basic responsibility of government and should be accompanied by visible improvements in infrastructure and public services.

She praised Abia State Governor Alex Otti, citing road construction, improvements in Aba and investments in hospitals and schools as examples of development efforts that should accompany regular salary payments.

Akpoti-Uduaghan further claimed that what Otti had achieved in Abia in less than two years was more than what Kogi had accomplished in 10 years.

“What Alex Otti has done in Abia in less than two years, Kogi has not done in 10 years. That man has changed Aba; he has fixed roads, hospitals, schools, and he is still paying salaries. So what are we celebrating here?” she asked.

Her comments were circulated in a video shared on social media on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The senator’s remarks have brought renewed attention to the debate over how state governments should measure performance, particularly the balance between meeting recurrent obligations such as salaries and delivering infrastructure and essential services.

Governor Ododo and the Kogi State Government’s response to the senator’s latest criticism was not included in the reports available at the time of publication.