– To sustain free bus services, palliatives for workers over fuel subsidy removal
– Donates N100m to workers for May Day
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara says he is committed to implementing the increase in workers’ salaries recently approved by the Federal Government as soon as the parameters are made available.
Governor Fubara also declared that no amount of intimidation, provocation, harassment or sabotage will change the focus of his administration in working for the interest of Rivers people.
The governor made this declaration on Wednesday at the Yakubu Gowon Township Stadium, Port Harcourt during the 2024 May Day Celebration, where he donated the sum of N100 million to the organized labour in the state.
Fubara noted that as a listening government he is aware of the common concerns and demands of labour on the urgency of stimulating economic growth and improving the living conditions of the people.
He emphasised that from the beginning of his administration he had promised to be labour friendly as his primary constituency and assured that he will not renege but continue to look after the well-being of the workers within the limit of available resources.
The governor expressed concerns over the poor state of the nation’s economy, especially, the continuously rising inflation and its impact on the purchasing power and well-being of the average worker and their families.
“Let me assure you that we are going to work with the Federal Government to implement necessary measures, including the continuation of the free bus services and the provision of necessary palliatives to ameliorate the current hardship faced by ordinary citizens.
“We are also committed to implementing the increase in workers’ salaries recently approved by the Federal Government as soon as the parameters are made available.
“I assure the leaders of the labour unions that our doors are open, and we are always available to resolve all your demands and other contending issues through constructive dialogue and negotiations.”
Earlier, the Rivers State Chairman of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Ikechukwu Onyefuru, expressed delight over recent feat of Governor Fubara by increasing the Internally Generated Revenue from N11billion to N27billion.
Onyefuru advised that with items like railways and building of refineries moved from Exclusive List to the Concurrent List, the State Government should take advantage of this new legal framework, to further grow the State’s IGR and create more jobs for the youths.
The TUC chairman also appealed to Governor Fubara to use his good offices to compel International Oil Companies not to move their headquarters out of the State, while also thanking him for mediating in the industrial dispute in Indorama Petrochemical and Fertiliser Company Limited at Eleme.
Comrade Onyefuru said Nigerian workers condemned and rejected the recent increase of electricity tariffs, describing it as draconian and anti-people.
Also, the Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress in Rivers State, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, pointed out that the theme of this year’s Workers Day, People’s First was unique as it amplifiers the significance of the people in the socioeconomic development of the society.
The labour leader urged the Governor to revolutionize the agriculture sector through the revamping of state- owned companies such as Shongai and Delta Rubber Companies and encourage young people to take up farming as sustainable means of livelihood.
Agwanwor, who urged the speedy completion of the East West Road to avert a reoccurrence of the recent carnage that claimed innocent lives, also called for the initiation of an Executive Bill to address the contending issues over the contributory pension scheme.
