Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has assured civil servants in the state of government’s willingness to pay the new minimum wage of N30,000.
The state’s Head of Civil Service, Mr. Wellington Obiri, gave the assurance when he received leaders of the state’s Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) after a peaceful protest to the Government House, Yenagoa, on Tuesday.
Obiri, while addressing the union leaders, said Governor Henry Seriake Dickson had already directed a committee to work out modalities for implementing the new minimum wage.
“I want to assure Bayelsa workers that government is in support of your quest for minimum wage.
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“The N30,000 minimum wage will be implemented by the state government.
“In an anticipation to that, Governor Seriake Dickson has directed the Head of Service and the Finance Committee to start working out the modalities for the implementation of whatever decision that is agreed and such a decision will be adhered to by the government.”
Chairman of the NLC in the state, Mr. John Bipre-Ndiomu, said the whole essence of the protest was to ensure that workers were treated fairly and the N30,000 minimum wage that was agreed by the National Tripartite Wages Nomination Committee was implemented to the letter.
“We have come to inform our state government that we are also waiting on them and that immediately the Federal Government gives approval, we are assured that the states will follow