Civil servants in Rivers State have appealed to the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike to graciously approve the payment of Christmas bonus to them in order to boost their morale and increase productivity.
The workers, who made the appeal under the aegis of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Rivers State council during the union’s 46th State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Port Harcourt last Friday appreciated the Governor for the encouragement given to them at this year’s May Day celebration in the State.
The union noted in a communiqué signed by its State Chairman, Comrade Opuoyibo Lilly-West and the Principal State Secretary, Comrade Dan Otakpo, that the workers thanked the Governor for keeping faith with the entire workforce by prompt payment of salaries and allowances.
The civil servants expressed happiness over the sustained payment of pensioners in the state but regretted that retirees from year 2015 and above were yet to benefit from pensions and gratuities and urged the government to put in place the necessary legislation that would guarantee and facilitate the payment of monthly pensions to all retired civil servants in the state.
While cautioning against the excessive use of military personnel during the 2019 general elections, the union called on the Federal Government to ensure the elections were free, fair and credible and urged all workers in the state to ensure that they exercise their franchise by casting their votes on election days.
The union condemned in strong terms the selective prosecution of the war against corruption, noting that the issue of corruption was yet to be seriously addressed, “ as corruption was one of the reasons for the downward slide of the economy which government has approached with levity, wherefore some of the high profile cases are being frustrated inspite of the evidences against the culprits owing to party affiliation.”
It, therefore, called on government to diligently prosecute any suspect and ensure that nobody was above the law.

By: Donatus Ebi.