Amaechi Assures On TIMARIV, 13,000 Teachers’ Salaries …Set To Build Labour House

Members of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria marching during May Day celebration in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Prince Obinna Dele

Governor Chibuike Amaechi yesterday at the Workers Day rally said he has released N500 million to settle the salary arrears of traffic marshals of the State Traffic Management Authority(TIMARIV),and that out of the 13,000 newly employed teachers 10,000 have been paid already.
He made the revelation at the Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt while responding to an address by Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC),Chief Chris Oruge.
In the words of the governor, “ I told the chairman of NLC that you are blackmailing me here…I told him that last night I released N500 miilion for the salaries. Instead of announcing that he made demands. So as I am talking to you I have directed the SSG to pay N500million depending on how much we are owing them, and that must happen immediately and as that happens we restructure TIMARIV because they are begining to take bribe now.”
Amaechi said the essence of setting up the traffic agency was to apprehend traffic offenders and generate revenue that will sustain their maintenance and other bills.
He stressed that the agency has to be retructured for more efficiency saying, “We must retructure and the first step is to ensure that all those who are corrupt are sacked… We must look for new workers and government must now take responsibility henceforth by paying their salaries and so they must find those who break the law and hold them.’’
On the teachers salaries, he announced that the remaining 3,000 teachers who are being owed, especially those in the Senior Secondary School would be paid this month, adding that government would gradually offset their arrears.
Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has offered to build a new labour house in the state.
He told leaders of both NLC and TUC after the march past that the state government will build one secretariat to house both unions, and therefore directed them to liaise with the Secretary to the State Government on the project.
Governor Amaechi was of the view that it would be expensive to build separate secretariats for them considering land and other resources required.
Earlier, Chairman of NLC, Chief Oruge while thanking the governor for the Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ) secretariat building pleaded same for the NLC, “ Your Excellency, may I also remind you of the promise you amde to NLC and TUC since 2010 to build a befitting secretariat for labour’’.
Chief Oruge also asked for new buses for the industrial unions pointing out that the old ones have gone out of use.
The Rivers State NLC boss later charged workers in the state to reciprocate government gesture by being hardworking and committed to their duties.