Rivers State government’s spirit of benevolence and collectiveness was further exhibited recently, as it announced plans to review the condition of service of civil servants in the state. The move is part of government’s efforts to embrace service delivery and make its workers take home pay comparatively better in the federation.
Indeed, to demonstrate government’s avowed determination to effect the review of workers’ salary, the state Commissioner for Information, Mrs Ibim Semenitari who dropped the hint said a committee which is being headed by the state Head of Service, Mrs Esther Anucha, would review the current pay structure of the workers in line with Governor Chibuike Amaechi administration’s belief in paying its workers a living wage.
Besides, the Information Commissioner said government was desirous of paying all civil servants in the state the same consolidated salary as their counterparts in the federal civil service, and stressed that the state government would maintain its stand that no state in the federation pays its workers higher than Rivers State.
This in effect, means that civil servants both in the mainstream and the parastatals would soon smile home monthly with fat pay envelopes. Suffice is to say that this gesture, no doubt, has in no mean way, demonstrated that the state governor is indeed, a benevolent and liberal man, who imbibes the spirit of the proverb of ‘live and let live”.
It is instructive to state that Governor Amaechi’s implementation of the January 2009 Federal Government’s 15% consolidated public salary structure shortly after he assumed duty as governor, was a historical landmark in the state, especially as several other state governments are yet to implement it. Amaechi’s gesture also shows that he is caring and carrying along all employees of government.
That said, now that the Governor Amaechi-led government has shown what could be termed as ‘sufficient benevolence’, it behoves all civil servants to rise to the occasion and perform their job(s) creditably, to justify the purpose for which they were employed.
In the past few months, speculations were rife that the state government would not review upward the present public salary structure for civil servants working for the government, as currently being worked out by the federal government. The insinuations, to a great extent, dampened the morale of civil servants across the state.
But given the state government’s recent move to review upward the consolidated salary structure, the fears of civil servants on the mind-boggling issue have been laid to rest.
This is why employees in the civil service, being the engine room of government, must redouble their efforts in the discharge of their schedules, as they await the review of the consolidated public salary structure.
As the saying goes “to whom much is given, much is expected.” Therefore, public servants must reciprocate the new consolidated salary package, although yet to be implemented. They must imbibe the spirit of hardwork in order to improve their productivity.
To achieve this, top government functionaries, must henceforth beam their searchlight on indolent workers, and those found wanting should be showed the way out, no matter whose ox is gored. Yes, they cannot enjoy fat monthly pay envelopes and exhibit indiscipline.
It is common knowledge that government’s job is always seen or regarded as “no man’s job”. That was in the past. It must no longer be so now.
At this juncture, it is also imperative to state that the policy of salary review for civil servants, is one of the devices of any government to move workers on the part of sustainable economic recovery and development.
Therefore, the state government’s current resolve to review upward the salary of civil servants must be reciprocated (through hardwork) by all concerned.