As the country gears up
for the 2015 general elections, workers in Bayelsa State have been urged not to allow the political class use them to push interests that are inimical to the state.
Governor Seriake Dickson, who gave the advice during the May Day celebration at the Peace Park in Yenagoa, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare of the workers.
He also reiterated his preparedness to engage the organised labour in discussing matters affecting their conditions of service and the wellbeing of Bayelsans at all times.
The governor stressed the need for civil servants to tread carefully, noting that greedy politicians, who do not have the interest of the state at heart, would stop at nothing to infiltrate labour with a view to actualising their sinister agenda.
While commending the state workforce for contributing to the achievements of the present administration, he emphasised that, all ongoing reforms of the government were intended to enhance efficient administration and productivity of the civil service.
According to the governor, “In view of the times that we are in, the organized labour should work hard to ensure that you don’t allow people, who want to contest for various offices to infiltrate your ranks, and even when you have legitimate complaints, let us not see political colour in them.
“ Even when we disagree, we remain open to work with you and engage you all, because in the first place, we are all citizens of Bayelsa State. So, we all have this state to develop by working together. There is no “us and them” situation, and as I keep saying, we, your political leaders are only tenants in this building called the public service, while the real landlords are yourselves. So, value the change that has come to you.”
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd), urged workers to be patient, assuring that government would do everything within its reach to ensure that all civil servants in the state were paid the arrears of the 18 per cent minimum wage.
Responding to some of the issues raised by labour, the Deputy Governor noted that in line with its policy of promoting efficiency of workers, the present administration has not only reopened the state public service training institute, but also appointed a Director General to oversee it.
According to him, the government has already acquired land to build the permanent site of the institute, adding that work on the project would commence soon.
In a joint address, the state councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) expressed appreciation to Governor Dickson for commencing payment of the N18,000 minimum wage arrears and pension gratuities to retirees and for the construction of modern school infrastructure in all parts of the state.
Meanwhile, Governor Dickson has signed into law three bills recently passed by the State House of Assembly. The bills are, Micro-Finance and Enterprise Development, Bayelsa State Maritime Academy, and the Bayelsa State Polytechnic.
Assenting to the bills in Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Dickson expressed optimism that the new maritime institution would be second to none in the training of seafarers, adding that the government is taking youth empowerment to the next level, where they would be productive and contribute to the growth of the economy.
Dickson, who noted that his administration was desirous of changing the trend where youths were dependent on handouts, said, the two new institutions; the Maritime Academy, Okpoama and the Bayelsa Polytechnic, Aleibiri, would help nurture the future of the youths.
He stressed that the polytechnic would specialize in providing technical skills to make youths employable and appealed to communities where the institutions are sited to ensure a conducive atmosphere for them to flourish.
Presenting the bills, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Konbowei Benson, applauded the relentless efforts of the governor at improving the standard of living of the people, describing him as a visionary leader.
Rt. Hon. Benson said the signing of the Micro Finance bill was timely as it was coming on the heels of the 20th edition of the international conference on Small and Medium Enterprises holding in the state.