The Delta state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday decried the rising cost of renting houses in the state.
The State NLC Chairman, Mr Goodluck Ofoburuku, who presented a joint address during the Workers Day celebration in Asaba, urged the state government to intervene in the housing sector to address the rising cost of rents in the state.
He lauded the state government for prompt payment of workers’ salaries, provision of infrastructures, particularly, roads, drainage, and a conducive working environment for civil servants among others across the state.
According to him, the multi-billion naira Prof Chike Edozien State Secretariat is commendable and provides workers with a more conducive atmosphere to work, but the rents for housing in the state capital and other urban cities across the state have soared beyond the reach of the civil servant irrespective of grade levels.
“For instance, a two-bedroom flat in Asaba and environs cost as much as N750,000 annually. This is beyond us considering what we earn as salaries. So, we are appealing to the state government to look into this direction and intervene to enable workers in the state live well, besides it will make us perpetual debtors as we must have to borrow to pay our rents annually.
Ofoburuku, however, lauded the Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa-led adminstration for establishing three additional universities. He said this had opened doors for candidates of the state origin to gain admission to study courses of their choices as against many years of marginalisation by other states universities.
He also urged the state government to partner with the workers union to ensure that the right leadership that would sustain and continue with the legacies and the developmental stride in the state was installed.
Responding, Okowa, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah, assured workers of government’s commitment to their plights.
He congratulated workers for the celebration, adding that the economy of the state was built by the workers and charged them to sustain the gesture to deepen the achievements. He said government was committed to building stronger civil service as an integral part of its stronger Delta agenda.
According to Okowa, skills acquisition remains an antidote to unemployment and this can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace and unity. “We are making arrangement to pay the backlog of pension arrears owed pensioners and we are also building infrastructure across the state.
“We are mindful about the high rents and we are doing something about that. What we need from the workers are greater dedication, commitment and patience for only through peace and unity, we can achieve prosperity.”
Okowa urged all the people of the state to join hands with his government to deepen development in the state.
State NLC Secretary, Mr Innocent Ofuonyeadi, commended the state for ensuring the welfare of workers but said that the workers’ struggles must continue to ensure a better welfare package for workers.