Tony Olutomiwa, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, on Wednesday assured workers in the state that they would be paid the N30,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
He, however, said the payment would commence after the details had been worked out by the Income and Wage Commission.
Dickson gave the assurance during his remarks at the Workers’ Day celebration held at the Peace Park in Yenagoa, the state capital.
He said he had been a believer in the N30,000 minimum wage and had openly said so at different fora, stressing though that government cannot pay without getting the modalities worked out by the Income and wages Commission.
“Let me tell you that I’ve been a believer in N30,000 minimum wage for a long time. The government of Bayelsa State has announced over and over that we are not against N30,000 minimum wage in principle. And let me also say so today. Now, we are waiting for the Income and Wages Commission to work out the modalities. We will pay N30,000 minimum wage but you have to wait for the National Income and Wages Commission to work out the modalities. There’s no way we can go and pay when we have not seen the modalities worked out as they affect every cadre”, he said.
The governor commended Labour leaders and the entire workforce for their understanding, hard work and dedication, which, he said made the difference at trying times especially during the last recession.
He said in the course of dealing with the labour leaders, they have had cause to disagree but that they co-existed in an atmosphere of mutual respect and at all times championed what was of common interest in the state.
“It may not be pleasant to everybody but we’ve always agreed to work together and when there are genuine concerns from Labour, I’ve always listened to them and address those concerns. There is no governor I know who had sat down with Labour leaders than myself”, he stated.
Dickson, who said he was full of emotion as this year’s Labour Day will be his last to felicitate with workers as governor, urged the workers to always observe ethics and responsibility in doing their jobs.
He said working together with the labour leaders, they have repositioned the civil service in the state, adding that a lot of work still lied ahead.
Dickson promised the workers access to low cost housing in the coming months, training and retraining of workers and employment of more teachers.
Earlier in a joint address by labour, read by the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Comrade John Bripi Ndionu, labour noted the progress made working with the state government on workers’ welfare but asked for more.
While appreciating the governor for offsetting payment of salary arrears, labour called on him to direct local authorities to follow suit and pay workers’ arrears.
Other demands of labour include proper placement and progression of teachers, promotion in the civil service and completion of the Labour House.
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