• As NLC, others rally electoral support for Fubara
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said his administration would implement outstanding promotion in the civil service and fulfil the promise of employing 10,000 youths into the service.
To make true of the promise, he said he has forwarded the list of members of the civil service commission immediately to the House of Assembly for screening, because they would oversee the process to fruition.
The governor spoke, yesterday, when he received a delegation led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Rivers State branch chairman, Alex Agwanwor, and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) Chairman, Emechete Chuku, at Government House in Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike accused the former leader of NLC in the state, Beatrice Itubo, of peddling lies against his administration that pensioners were owed 15 months of entitlements.
He said: “We have been paying pension and gratuities every month. Not less than three point something billion naira is set aside for that purpose, including payment of benefits.
“In fact, the former accountant general of the state told me yesterday that those of 2016 and 2017 have been cleared, but you hear her (Beatrice Itubo) go to say we have not paid for 15 months. That is unfair.
“How will a government, it has never happened in this state, that built a secretariat for NLC and TUC at the same time be anti-labour?”
Governor Wike noted that Itubo was also involved in other antagonistic activities that totally destroyed the cordial relationship that once existed between workers and the state government.
He blamed her for the delay workers had witnessed in getting their due promotion, but said with the new NLC executive in place, promotion would be implemented for workers expeditiously.
“Now that she has left, to welcome you, we are going to start the promotion process. I didn’t want her to take credit. You should take the credit.
“So, there is nothing government cannot do for you if we have a good relationship. There is a way you go about it. You don’t go about plotting against the downfall of a government which will also affect the welfare of your members,” he said.
Governor Wike pointed to the reality of the civil service having, for first time, one of their own as the governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara, of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“So, I thought the civil service, the union ought to have taken it up themselves to say this campaign is our own, that we are getting one of us now who will be in charge of the affairs of this state.
“The deputy (running mate) is also experienced in civil service job. She has also been a permanent secretary, became a commissioner and a lecturer.
“We don’t need to come and speak to you. You are the ones to take it upon yourselves. Can we miss this opportunity now,” he said.
Recalling his experience, governor Wike said: “I am not a civil servant, so, it even took me time to understand the rudiment of civil service bureaucracy and all that.
“Now, this is somebody who has passed through these levels; from the junior cadre up to senior cadre to permanent secretary and become accountant general. So, who is more qualified to preside over the state?
“It is not all these people who in private businesses. Private business is not public service. When you come in, you’ll know it’s a different ball game.”
Governor Wike warned Rivers workers against supporting Tonye Cole, the Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) who, in connivance with the former minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, sold Rivers assets and are currently facing prosecution over $50 million proceeds from that sale.
Agwanwor said his executive committee was elected two days ago and they came to present themselves to the governor and pledge their loyalty to his administration.
He noted as sad the sour relationship between government and the Rivers workers. But as partners in progress, he assured NLC will right the wrongs, return to that path of cooperation to attract better welfare for workers.
Agwanwor pledged that Rivers workers will rally support for Fubara to become the next governor.
Also, Chuku acknowledged the unequal infrastructure development strides of the Wike’s administration and said it was sad the former NLC leadership could not sustain a cordial workers-government relationship.
He thanked Wike for paying workers’ salary regularly, initiating the payment of pensions, clearing up to batch 2014 and assured workers would be mobilised to deliver winning votes to Fubara as next governor.