Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu has given reasons for the delay in the payment of workers entitlements in the areas of promotion benefits. But he has also said that he is not owing anybody in terms of pension and gratuity.
The governor said this on Wednesday in an address he presented at this year’s Workers’ Day in Calabar. He said: “Since my assumption of office, the payment of monthly salary and pension to workers and pensioners has remained a first line charge in every months’ expenditure.
“Having considered the huge effort workers put in the implementation of government policies and programmes; and taking cognizance of the diligent service the retirees had rendered to the State and these senior citizens are now faced with some health challenges, mobility issues, hunger etc., I am morally inclined to give them this priority attention.
“So, as at today 1st May, 2024 the April 2024 salary and pension have been duly paid to every worker and pensioner in the State. The State Government is presently on the verge of concluding necessary arrangements for the staggered payment of outstanding gratuity to its retired workers. I therefore sue for a little patience from the pensioners in this regard.
On the delay in the payment of promotion entitlement to the workers, he said “my administration is that with a human face; hence sensitive to the hue and cry of the people. Unfortunately, I met an apparent disillusioned and less motivated workforce which was a function in part, of staff stagnation on the same salary grade level for years.
“Alarmed by this awful situation, I immediately directed the State Civil Service Commission to conduct promotion interview in order to upgrade all deserving workers in the state up to 2023. I believe the exercise has brought some succor to the suffering workforce and serves as a catalyst for hardwork.
“I have equally directed relevant government agencies to liaise with the office of the State Accountant-General to implement all genuine promotions for the State and Local Government Workers with effect from May 2024.
“The slight delay in the implementation of these promotions was informed by the need to carry out a thorough clean-up of the State Payroll, of duplication and to weed out ghost workers (if any). So, after the harmonization of the payroll, every genuine promotion shall be implemented accordingly.
“Besides, I have further directed that the annual incremental step the State and Local Government Workers have not enjoyed for more than a decade now, should be implemented with immediate effect.
He said it was not for nothing, that this year’s theme of the celebration, People First, coincided with the mantra of his government. “The theme for this year’s Workers’ Day is the “People First” and this interestingly coincides with my administration’s mantra.
“Accordingly, whatever action aimed at ameliorating the suffering of the workers is readily embraced by me. One of such measures is the payment of a living wage to the workforce. May I therefore state categorically that, the government of Cross River State under my leadership, is willing and ready to put smile on the faces of its workers and in line with the season of sweetness which characterizes my administration.
“However, owing to the peculiarity of our State in regard to its lean finances occasioned by low Statutory Federal Allocation and aggravated by the unfavorable State GDP to Debt servicing ratio, the new wage implementation shall be in line with the realities of the time rather than sentiments.
“On this note, I wish to announce that the least paid worker in the Cross River State Civil Service will henceforth earn the sum of N40,000.00 (Forty Thousand Naira) only; as a living wage. Modalities for immediate implementation are being worked out.
“Moreover, in order to enhance the income of an average farmer and others within the informal sector, I also wish to announce that henceforth the activities of merchants or middle men making huge profits from the sweat of the producers are abolished. In order to bridge this gap and afford the farmers the opportunity to sell their produce at competitive market rate, the State Produce Marketing Board will soon be constituted to control prices.”
