Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
The Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State have lambasted those criticising Governor Nyesom Wike’s sudden decision to employ about 10,000 workers into the civil service.
The council has, therefore, lauded Wike for reconstituting the Civil Service Commission and also promising to employ 10,000 new workers into the service.
Governor Wike’s announcement of his decision to employ 10,000 new workers into the state civil service has continued to attract ferocious critisms from Rivers people.
The critics see the move as a last-minute ploy by the governor to drum support for the PDP ahead of the March 11 governorship election. They wondered why the Rivers Governor waited for more than seven years of his administration before remembering to employ workers and promote old ones.
But reacting to the criticisms, the PDP campaign council’s Director of Publicity and Communications, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt that in taking steps to address the needs of the Civil service, the Governor has touched all segments of the Rivers society.
Describing the critics as detractors and cheap political goal scorers, Nwuke said: “We are aware that several detractors have been trying to reap cheap political capital from what they perceive as the delay in addressing the needs of the Civil Service. Now that the Government is dealing with the Civil Service, they are changing their dance step.
“We are, however, gladdened by the fact that Governor Nyesom Wike whose new vision has touched on all sectors of our economy, has in accordance with his laid down plan for the State, decided to focus on the Rivers State Civil Service.
“The Governor has expanded health facilities, built several roads and flyovers to ease traffic and the movement of goods and services, and linked the Rivers grassroots with the State capital.
“He has provided scholarships to Rivers students and improved the learning environment in our schools as part of the human capital development policy of the State Government.
He advised the critics not to worry about the timing of the employment as long as the decision is a right one.
Nwuke said: “Those who are biting their tongues over the decision to constitute a Civil Service Commission and the resolve by Government to employ 10,000 workers need not worry about timing. Is Governor Wike right in ensuring that workers are promoted? Our answer is yes. Is the Governor right in his decision to fill vacancies in the service by employing 10,000 workers? Again, our answer is yes.
“The interest of those we love are last served, so goes a popular aphorism. Governor Wike has proved by his action that there is no time that he ever forgot the contributions of Rivers workers.
“The Civil Service Commission by law has the statutory mandate of handling matters related to the employment as well as the promotion of workers.
“In carrying out this unique function, there are financial and administrative guidelines that must be followed.”
