Workers, Pensioners’ Welfare, My Priority -Wike …Election Riggers To Be Treated As Armed Robbers …Assures Oil Firms Of Adequate Security

As part of his ‘thank you’ meeting with civil servants in the state after the Supreme Court’s judgment, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, says welfare of government workers and pensioners will be top on his priority.
He made the promise while addressing thousands of civil servants at the state secretariat complex in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The governor  assured  civil servants and pensioners  that his administration  will  continue to pay their salaries and  pensions promptly.
He, however, stated that  steps will be taken by the administration  to verify the actual  number of civil servants  and  pensioners  to stop payment  to non-existent beneficiaries.
The governor announced that the state government will observe January  27th every year as a public holiday  to mark the  survival  of  the  state  from the forces of  political  conspiracy  who attempted  to  subvert the mandate of  the  people.
The  Supreme Court delivered  her judgment  validating Wike’s election on January  27, 2016.
Wike  urged the civil servants  and  other Rivers  people to ensure they vote for PDP  candidates  in  the re-run elections to promote  harmony  in governance  and  sustain the  development  agenda of the state government.
He pointed out that the  defeated  APC  in the state plans to use the rerun elections to enter the political  arena through the window having been shut out by the people and the Supreme Court.
Wike said: “when someone cannot come through the door, he may want to come through the window.  Rivers people must not allow them. Our people must stop them from entering through the window to obstruct the good works of this administration”.
Speaking  further on the rerun  elections,  Wike  said  that  the  will of the Rivers people will prevail,  adding  that the use of security  forces and other electoral officials  to rig the process will fail woefully.
The governor  added that  the administration  will work out modalities  to improve the  state’s  internally generated revenue.
Earlier,  Head of the State Civil Service, Barrister Rufus Godwins, commended  the governor  for being up to date in the payment  of  salaries  and  pensions, and assured the governor of the loyalty of the workers.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Nigerian Civil Service Union, Rivers State, Comrade Opuiyo Lilly-West has called on the governor to institute reforms in the civil service.
Lilly-West, who spoke shortly after the governor met the civil servants yesterday, observed that the Supreme Court’s judgment has provided a conducive atmosphere for the governor to revamp the public service, especially as he drew his attention to infrastructure decay in the system.
The civil service union leader stated that so far, Wike has shown zeal and love to civil servants by paying their salaries promptly, while stressing the need to provide facilities for the workers to discharge their duties effectively.
Lilly-West also tasked civil servants to reciprocate the government’s gesture by being prompt to work and to eschew rancour and all divisive tendencies in order to get the best out of the present administration.
He described last week’s Supreme Court judgment as victory for Rivers people,  ” you and I know the situation in the state before now and the judgment has brought peace to all nooks and crannies of the state”.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has approved January  27 every year as a public holiday  to mark the  survival  of  the  state  from the forces of  political  conspirators  who attempted  to  subvert the mandate of  the  people.
The  Supreme Court delivered  its judgment  validating Governor Nyesom Wike’s election on January  27, 2016.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has also reiterated  his warning to those planning  to  rig the  re-run  elections  in  Rivers State,  that they will be treated as armed robbers by the people.
Addressing thousands  of civil servants  at the  State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt,  Wike  said  that  the public  holiday  signifies God’s intervention  in the affairs  of  Rivers State.
He said: “Every January 27 will be observed as a public holiday in this state because that is the day God came down to save Rivers State.  What people must understand is that power comes from God. We know God speaks last and he has spoken”.
Governor  Wike  urged the civil servants  and  other Rivers  people to ensure they vote for PDP  candidates  in  the re-run elections to promote  harmony  in governance  and  sustain the  development  agenda of the state government.
According  to  him, the people  believe  in the transformational leadership of  the PDP,  stressing  that  it was exhibited in Bayelsa State,  where the use of force by security  agents failed to deliver  electoral victory to the APC.
The governor  assured  civil servants and pensioners  that his administration  will  continue to pay their salaries and  pensions. Adding that welfare  issues  will be  given top priority.
In another development, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom  Wike has assured  oil prospecting companies  operating  in the  state  of adequate  security  to carry  out  their business  activities.
Speaking  at Government House, Port Harcourt  yesterday when he granted audience  to the  management  of  Nigerian Agip Oil Company,  (NAOC), Wike  said  that  the  security  measures  taken by his administration have improved  security across the state.
He said  that the State  Security  Council has worked  out modalities  for the incremental  improvement  of security  in liaison  with all stakeholders.
Wike  said: “our responsibility  is to provide  an enabling  environment  for all businesses  to thrive.  We have succeeded in improving security around your operational base in Omoku.  Going forward, we will enhance the security situation in your operational base.”
The governor, however, urged NAOC  to improve  its commitment  to  corporate  social  responsibility to its host communities.
He urged the company  to complete work on the rehabilitation  of  Agip Junction  to Agip  headquarters  in Obio/Akpor  Local  Government  Area for the people to benefit.
Earlier, the new General Manager of Nigerian Agip Oil Company, Engr. Marco Rotondi, had congratulated   Wike on his victory at the Supreme Court  and assured him that the company will cooperate  with the Rivers State Government at all times.
Outgoing General Manager, District, Poalo Carnevale described  the period  he spent in the state as fruitful,  commending  the  state government  for creating the  enabling  environment  for the operation  of  the  company.

L-R:World Bank’s Representative, Mr Paula Rossiasco, European Union’s Representative, Mr Tom Hockley, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Mrs Maryam Masha and Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Haruna Furo, during a Recovery and Peace Building Assessment meeting for North-Eastern States, in Yola, yesterday