– To employ 10,000 youths into civil service
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says his administration will implement outstanding promotion in the State Civil Service and fulfil the promise of employing 10,000 youths into the service.
To this end, Governor Wike said he has forwarded the list of members of the Civil Service Commission immediately to the State House of Assembly for screening, assuring that they will oversee the process to fruition.
Governor Wike spoke on Thursday when he received on courtesy visit a delegation led by the Chairman of the Rivers State branch of Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Alex Agwanwor and the Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, 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 are owed 15 months of entitlements.
“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 cleared, but you hear her (Beatrice Itubo) go to say that that 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 also accused the former NLC Chairperson of involving in other antagonistic activities that totally destroyed the cordial relationship that once existed between workers and the State government.
Governor Wike blamed her for the delay workers had witnessed in getting their due promotion, but said with the new NLC executive in place, promotion will 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 how 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.”
In his address, Rivers NLC Chairman, Comrade Alex 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.
Agwanwor noted as sad the sour relationship between government and the Rivers workers. But as partners in progress, he assured that NLC in the State will right the wrongs, return to that path of cooperation in order to attract better welfare for workers.
Also speaking, Rivers chairman of Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Emechete Chuku, who acknowledged the unequal infrastructural development strides of the Wike’s administration, thanked the governor for paying workers salary regularly, initiating the payment of pensions, clearing up to batch 2014.
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