Apparently impressed by the relationship between them and the governors of Rivers and Bayelsa states, workers in the two states on Wednesday passed a verdict on the governors: they are extraordinarily gracious to and very considerate of the welfare of workers.
The workers passed the verdict during this year’s Workers’ Day celebration. In Rivers State, for example, the workers expressed appreciation to Sim Fubara for standing out as an exceptional friendly governor.
Chairman of the NLC in the state, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, said the theme of 2024 International Labour Day, ‘People First’, reflected the leadership direction of Fubara, who he said, had continued to prioritise the welfare of workers.
Agwanwor said the governor implemented promotion for state and local government workers with consequential financial benefits.
Also implemented, he said, were payment of N30,000.00 minimum wage to LG workers, N100,000.00 Christmas bonus across board to all workers, constitution of governing councils, boards and commissions of government agencies, institutions for effective service delivery, restored functionality of basic utilities at the State Secretariat, and reopened Rivers State Transport Company (RTC).
“For us as Rivers State workers, we make bold to state without fear, or favour that, the present Administration of Your Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is aptly a reflection of the year 2024 theme of Workers Day celebration.
“We acknowledge consistently, the demonstration of Your Excellency’s confession of purpose and value driven leadership and administration in thoughts, deeds, and actions, and as critical stakeholders in Rivers State project and beneficiaries of Your Excellency’s humane disposition, we offer to journey with you on the quest to positively impact on the lives of Rivers people.”
He commended the Governor for making efforts to revamp the abandoned Songhai Integrated Farms at Bunu Tai, and listed other agricultural initiatives such as Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) and C-4 programmes, Delta Rubber Company, among others, as areas the Government must focus on to enhance food sufficiency and security, while taming hunger and raising job creation opportunities in the State.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Okechukwu Onyefuru, expressed delight over recent feat of Governor Fubara by increasing the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N11billion to N27billion.
In his speech, Fubara gave the assurance that he would work with the federal government towards the implementation of a new minimum wage for the workers.
He said: “Let me assure you that we are going to work with the Federal Government to implement necessary measures, including the continuation of the free bus services and the provision of necessary palliatives to ameliorate the current hardship faced by ordinary citizens.
“We are also committed to implementing the increase in workers’ salaries recently approved by the Federal Government as soon as the parameters are made available.
“We are a listening Government, and we have heard the common concerns and demands of labour on the urgency of stimulating economic growth and improving the living conditions of our people.
“Rivers State is what it is, economically strong, resilient, and vibrant because of our workers. Our local governments and communities are what they are because workers are doing their jobs.
“Our nation is the largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa only because of the commitment, efforts, and achievements of our workers.
“What this means is that there can be no nation-building or progress in society without the input, effort, and sacrifice of the workforce.”
“As a Government, we recognize the roles, importance, and relevance of our workers to the implementation of our policy agenda for economic growth, provision of infrastructure, social progress and advancing the welfare and well-being of citizens.
“This is the reason we are here, not only to celebrate with you, but also to reiterate, reinforce, and reassure us of the inseparable bonds we have with organised labour as partners in progress.
“We may have reasonable causes to disagree, which is normal in every social relationship. But we cannot afford to be at each other’s throats and neglect our common responsibilities to advance the peace, security, and progress of our State.
“Less we forget that the social contract binds not only the Government; it applies to the workers as much as patriots.”
“I stand by this statement even now and for as long as I remain in office as the Governor of Rivers State. I will not disappoint you. I will continue to govern with the fear of God and carry everyone, including labour, along.
“We promised not to neglect the interest and well-being of our workers within the limits of available resources, and we have not faltered on this promise.
“On the 1st of June, 2023, barely three days after the assumption of office, I visited the State Secretariat Complex to see its dilapidated state and take immediate measures to improve the poor working environment of our workers.
“Since then, we have reactivated and restored some facilities and services in the Secretariat Complex, including the water system, elevators, leaking roofs, and improved electricity supply.
“In addition, we have also commissioned a reputable international company to scope the entire complex and advise on the cost of a comprehensive rehabilitation of the Secretariat Complex, which we intend to carry out in phases as available finances will allow.”
In Bayelsa State, chairman of the NLC, Comrade Barnabas Simon, and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Laye Julius, said in a joint address that they were appreciative of the governor for approving payment of wage award to all categories of workers in the state, as well as the implementation, prompt payment of salaries of workers and pensioners, among others.
“Organised labour in Bayelsa is most sincerely grateful for your kind and favourable disposition to the needs and aspirations of workers in the state.
“Your open-door policies and swift response to most of our demands in the last four years is highly appreciated.”
They, however, appealed for an upward review of the wage award, improved transportation system for workers, and mapping out of acquired lands for civil servants.
Diri, while addressing the workers announced the set up a committee to work out modalities for implementation of a new minimum wage for workers in the state civil service.
The committee is headed by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, while the Head of Service, Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, the Commissioner for Finance, Maxwell Ebibai, his Labour, Productivity and Employment counterpart, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe, are members.The committee has the end of May 2024 to submit its report.
The governor assured that his administration would implement a new minimum wage once the committee submits its report and he makes a pronouncement on wage increase, saying that the state workers always had emoluments as their federal counterparts.
He stressed that the welfare of workers had always been a top priority of his administration as attested to by the numerous worker-friendly policies he initiated.
Governor Diri equally promised to commence the building of a new befitting secretariat complex for civil servants to accommodate the increasing workforce.
The state’s helmsman, who described workers as the backbone of development in society, attributed the achievements in his first tenure to the support and contributions of civil servants.
He called for continuous harmonious working relationship with his government in order to bequeath lasting legacies .
He also approved an annual step increment for civil servants, release of funds for completion of the state secretariat of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
He said: “I hereby set up a committee comprising the Head of Service, the Commissioner for Finance, the Chief of Staff, Government House, the Honourable Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity and to be headed by the Secretary to the Government of Bayelsa State.
“This committee is to immediately look into what the Federal Government has done on the proposed minimum wage and see the possibility of domiciling it in Bayelsa State. It is given until the end of May to submit its report.
“My dear workers of Bayelsa, you have done so well. You know that you are the engine room of this government. We have succeeded because you have done so well. We receive commendations everywhere we go.
“In terms of infrastructure, human capacity building and other sectors, we have done well. I say you should continue to keep it up.
“Together, we are building a Bayelsa State of our dreams, a beacon of hope, a model of progress and a testament to our the unity of purpose. The tangible evidence of these fruitful collaborations is that abundantly we have made it clear for all to see in the plethora of transformative legacy projects that now span the length and breadth of our state, touching the lives of all Bayelsans.
“Let us continue to work together so that the future of our state will be established.
“Beyond the ongoing renovation, we will look at the option of building a new state-of-the-art secretariat complex to accommodate the expanding workforce.”
Meanwhile, the Danish government has launched a programme in support of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) crime prevention and enhancement of community-based security projects in Bayelsa State.
The European nation earmarked the sum of 1.19 million Danish Krone (about N2.4 billion) for the community-based security and vocational skills projects.
The initiative, which is in furtherance of ongoing UNODC projects in the state and the Niger Delta region, will be implemented in five communities across, empowering them through joint security committees to manage their security environment proactively as well as helping to address the root causes of crime and violence.
It will also enhance collaboration between communities and law enforcement agencies building trust and fostering lasting partnerships.
The Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria/Cameroon/Equatorial Guinea/Republic of Congo/Central African Republic/Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Mr. Sune Krogstrup, disclosed this at a joint press conference alongside Governor Douye Diri, the European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Samuela Isopi, the Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and ECOWAS, Ms. Leena Pylvänäinen, the German
Deputy Consul General in Nigeria, Gerald Wolf, and the UNODC Country Representative, Dr. Oliver Stolpe, in Government House, Yenagoa.
Mr. Krogstrup said the importance of Bayelsa State and the entire Niger Delta region to the economy of Nigeria cannot be over-emphasised.
He said as a seafaring nation with between 30 and 40 vessels at any point in time around the Gulf of Guinea, Denmark was concerned about of the area, Bayelsa and Niger Delta.
The envoy stressed that this concern underscored the significance of the new projects and support to the Bayelsa government.
He said: “It is our hope that this support will enhance peace and security and sustainable development in vulnerable communities.
“Community-based crime prevention is a cornerstone of effective security strategies. We are proud to partner with the Bayelsa State government and UNODC to empower communities and promote lasting peace.”
Sune reaffirmed his government’s commitment to addressing the root causes of crime and violence at sea and on land in the Gulf of Guinea.
In his remarks, the UNODC Country Representative, Mr Oliver Stolpe, said the new projects would focus on strengthening the Niger Delta peace architecture and community-based crime prevention strategies in the state.
He noted that the key element of the project was the evaluation of the implementation of the community-based crime prevention strategies and the three action plans in the three pilot communities of Otuan, Ayamasa and Ikebiri 1 undertaken in the first phase between 2021 and 2023 with funding from the German government.
In his opening remarks, Governor Douye Diri advocated the need for stronger ties with the international community to foster peace, security, job creation and sustainable development in the state.
Diri expressed appreciation to Denmark, the other European nations and UNODC for their invaluable contributions in sustaining peace and security in communities, particularly for the launch of some empowerment projects last year at Otuan, Ikebiri in Southern Ijaw and Ayamasa in Ekeremor local government areas.
The governor also solicited the support of the EU and other international development partners in addressing unemployment through the development of agro-allied businesses and small and medium scale enterprises to boost peace and security in the state.
To enhance security across communities, the state’s helmsman said the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has to be given another look.
According to him, the implementation of the Act had generated crisis in some communities because state governments were not involved in the legislation process.
