From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has set up a committee to work out modalities for the implementation of a new minimum wage for workers in the state civil service.
The committee is headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, while the Head of Service, Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, the Commissioner for Finance, Maxwell Ebibai, his Labour, Productivity and Employment counterpart, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe, are members.
The committee has till the end of May 2024 to submit its report.
Senator Diri made the pronouncement yesterday at the 2024 Workers’ Day celebration at the Peace Park in Yenagoa.
The governor assured that his administration would implement a new minimum wage once the committee submits its report.
He stressed that the welfare of workers had always been a top priority of his administration as attested to by the numerous worker-friendly policies he initiated.
Governor Diri equally promised to commence the building of a new befitting secretariat complex for civil servants to accommodate the increasing workforce.
The state’s helmsman, who described workers as the backbone of development in society, attributed the achievements in his first tenure to the support and contributions of civil servants. He called for continuous harmonious working relationship with his government in order to bequeath lasting legacies.
The Bayelsa helmsman also approved an annual step increment for civil servants, release of funds for completion of the state secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Earlier, the workers eulogised the Governor for his labour-friendly policies that have improved their working conditions.
In a joint address by the chairman of the NLC, Barnabas Simon, and his TUC counterpart, Laye Julius, the workers specifically thanked the governor for approving the payment of wage award to all categories of workers in the state, the regular conduct of promotions exercises and implementation of prompt payment of salaries of workers and pensioners, among others.