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RSG Explains Delay In Payment Of Promotion Arrears …Tasks NLC On Unity, Reconciliation
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has explained that the state government has delayed promotion and payment of arrears of allowances of civil servants due to the current economic challenges.
This is as Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Rivers State, Comrade Beatrice Itubo, told The Tide that negotiation was still ongoing on the need to effect promotion and payment of backlog of arrears owed civil servants.
She said the disposition of the government was such that the economic reality may make it difficult to effect that payment immediately.
However, while hosting visiting President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, last Friday in Government House, Port Harcourt, the governor said it will be unfair to promote a worker without effecting his promotion benefits, hence, the delay in effecting promotion of workers in the state.
He said once the economic situation improves, his administration will not delay paying promotion benefits and arrears.
On the new salary being pressed by the labour union, the governor said: “If the new salary structure is agreed, if Rivers State can pay, can Ebonyi State pay? There should not be a uniform condition of service. In Nigeria, you are paid same amount of money in Lagos as in Kogi State. That is why we cannot get it right.”
Wike assured the NLC that his administration will continue to resolve all welfare challenges facing workers and retirees.
Consequently, Wike berated the NLC over division in its ranks, saying, Nigerians are no longer happy with the (NLC) because of the infiltration of the congress by political forces.
The governor stated that the political infiltration of the NLC has made the congress ineffective and unable to positively respond to issues that affect less privileged Nigerians.
He said: “Nigerians are not happy with the NLC. With due respect, you people are now politicians. You are no longer as strong as you used to be.
“I remember when Dr Goodluck Jonathan was president, you wanted to pull heaven down just for the slight removal of petroleum subsidy. Now, they have removed everything, and nothing has happened”.
He regretted that the NLC has fallen to the level where it calls for strike, and workers fail to respond.
“You have allowed politicians to penetrate your ranks, and you now have two factions. Factionalisation is not the best. I urge you to work for the union to be strong as this is in the interest of the nation”, he said.
While pledging his support to the NLC, he urged the congress to stand firm and work for the protection of Nigerians and the country’s democracy.
“Look at what is happening in the country today, and nobody is talking. Nobody wants to go to jail. If you talk, EFCC will come after you. If you don’t want EFCC to trouble you, defect to the other party. There was this ED Finance of the NDDC, who was a member of the PDP. EFCC was after him, when he defected to the other party, they dropped the charges”, he said.
He said the country should practice true federalism in all areas, including the salary structure of the respective states.
In his remarks earlier, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, had commended the governor for the regular payment of salaries and pensions.
“We have interfaced with workers, and they said you have been regular in the payment of salaries and pensions.
“The trade unions asked me to express their gratitude, particularly on the issue of regular payment of salaries. This, certainly, we have to appreciate because we are aware that in some states, they have difficulty in that aspect. In some states, they have even contemplated retrenchment”, Wabba said.
The NLC president appealed to the Rivers State governor to handle the challenges arising from recently retired workers’ contributory pensions and the irregular meetings of the Public Service Joint Negotiating Council.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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