Trade Union Congress (TUC), Bayelsa Chapter, has lauded Gov. Douye Diri’s Government for making the welfare of workers a priority, saying that the feat has made the government the most workers friendly in the country.
The TUC State Chairman, Comrade Laye Julius, gave the commendation on Wednesday, at its maiden public lecture and award night in Yenagoa.
The theme of the lecture was: “Blocking the Leakages in the Internally Generated Revenue of Bayelsa State, the Role of Civil Servants”.
Julius appreciated Gov. Diri for paying civil servants salaries fully even during the COVID-19 outbreak when most states stopped implementation of the minimum wage.
He noted that Bayelsa is one of the states in the federation that is paying workers’ salaries as and when due and that retirement benefits are being paid monthly to retirees.
He said that the state government had spent more than N1 billion for the payment of 2011 minimum wage arrears for primary and secondary school teachers.
He added that the government had started implementing promotion of local government council workers from 2012 up to date.
“Let me say that the government of Sen. Douye Diri is the friendliest government in the federation; I think the only state that is head to head with Bayelsa is Lagos State.
“During the COVID-19 era, most rich states stopped the implementation of the minimum wage, Bayelsa was the only state that paid the minimum wage in full.
“There are governors that are good because of some physical projects they carried out but the primary need of man is food, clothing and shelter.
“If you deny the civil servant his wage morally, psychological you have killed him.”
“Some states since 2011 have not organised promotions, those states don’t pay gratuities. We also know of states that are sacking workers in thousands. NLC has gone to protest but nothing has come of such protests.
“This state is not only paying workers as and when due but gratuities are being paid monthly to retirees which others states are not paying.
“So, I want to thank him in spite of the few criticism from people who do not mean well for the state and to encourage him to continue to do more for the workers.
“Once an economy has a workforce that is well paid, then there is a market and if investor comes he is sure there are people who have money in their pockets to buy and when they buy taxation also increases,” he said.
Julius stated the lecture was organised by TUC to enlighten members and Bayelsans in their roles in boosting the internally generated revenue and make the state prosperous.
He noted the dwindling revenue accruing to the federal government necessitating the government to engage in borrowing to fund the budget, the controversies surrounding VAT collection.
“The issues of some states lying off workers as well as the uncertainties of FAAC allocation to states are some of the challenges that might befall workers.
The chairman said the lecture was an avenue for the union to look inwards on how the state can improve on its internally generated revenue to absorb the shocks in the face of dwindling federal allocation.
On his part, the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, commended the TUC, for organising such event to enlighten the civil servants on its role.
He urged Bayelsa workers to be time conscious in whatever they do, that time waits for no one.
Ewhrudjakpo assured workers on the support of government and urged them to change their attitude towards work and be time conscious.
In his address, the State Secretary Association of Senior Civil Servant of Nigeria, Mr Ebi Sikpi, expressed delight in the outcome of the programme.
He said that with this, the government could still look into the matter of the welfare of civil servants, which the present administration has done well.
The organising committee chairman said that if civil servants are well taken care of, they will ensure that all revenue collecting areas are effectively utilised. (NAN)
