Rivers: Labour urges RSG to pay overheads, respect rights of workers

Tina Amanda

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has urged Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration to pay overheads and imprest to heads of ministerial departments and schools for effective service delivery.

The State NLC Chairman, Alex Agwanwor, stated this while commemorating the Workers Day celebration at the Elekahia Stadium, Port Harcourt, with the theme: “Workers Rights and Socio-Economic Justice.”

Agwanwor emphasized that the overheads payment, which has ceased for years, has affected the smooth operations of the various Government agencies and schools, especially in the rural areas.

He noted that the restoration of the payment of overheads and imprest to heads of different ministerial departments and schools, including rural allowance, will serve as motivational incentives for efficient service delivery.

The NLC Chairman also appealed for implementing the consolidated legislative salary structure (CONLSS), approved by the National Salary, Income and Wages Commission in 2019.”Your Excellency, regarding the consolidated legislative salary structure, twelve states have approved the implementation across the Federation so far.

We appeal to implement the same for Rivers State legislative workers as motivational incentives”.Also, in his speech, State Chairman Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Ikechukwu Onyefuru demanded that the rights of Nigerian workers should be respected, as the nation’s economy has kept workers in perpetual struggle without any form of improved earning or wages.”You will agree with me that the country’s economic condition is not improving; inflation is eating deep into the fabric of the earnings of Nigerian workers.

Value erosion has continued to eat deep into the earnings of Nigerian workers, and the total pay of workers remains stagnant.”We are no more enjoying equal work for equal pay.

Nigerian worker is subjected to poverty today because of inflation deplorable or economic policies in the count; as you are aware, the world is evolving; post COVID-19 brought about new ways of work even workplaces dynamics have changed.”Nigerian workers have continued to strangle to remain afloat to keep the economy going without any form of improved earnings from the North to the South, East to West.

Today is important to us, and we are hopeful that the government will do the needful to make sure the plight of Nigerian workers is considered to the extent that Socio-Economic Justice is done.

“The rights of Nigerian worker in respect to equal work, equal pay, good place of work is upheld, such that Nigerian worker will continue to represent the right of Nigerian worker and the interest of Nigerian at large.”

The TUC Chairman, however, commended workers for their hard work in moving the country forward, especially Rivers State. He also lauded Governor Wike for his developmental strides during his administration in the state, noting that the Trade Union Congress would work with the incoming government to move the state forward in development.

In response to their demands, Governor Nyesom Wike said his administration has commenced payment of gratuity, pension, and death benefits of retirees to the tone of one billion naira monthly to beneficiaries.

The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, assured workers that he will clear off all the burden’s facing the Civil service, such as pension and gratuities.

Wike, who commended the workers as a vehicle that delivers the action plans and benefits of the state to the people, urged them to work together to protect and advance the social and economic interests of the state and the citizens. While seeking workers’ patience and understanding in the process.

The Governor said his administration had approved the promotion of over 4,000 eligible civil servants to their appropriate grade levels. He directed the Commission to issue the beneficiaries with their promotion letters immediately, assuring that the entire promotion exercise of other categories would be completed before the expiration of his tenure.