By Mark Lenu
Commercial drivers in Rivers State say they experience higher patronage in the transport sector in this month of December than the previous due to the benevolence of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
It is on record that while some states could not pay the N70,000 national minimum wage, Governor Fubara had increased the state minimum wage to N87,000 and had paid Rivers civil servants their December salary.
Apart from the national minimum wage, the governor also gave N100,000 each to the state civil servants as Christmas bonus, a gesture that had helped commercial activities especially within the month of December.
Consumers now have the purchasing power at the market, boosting the traders’ willingness to buy goods with the hope that the consumers will patronise them.
According to the state President of the Urban Drivers Welfare Association, Comrade Lekia Isaac, market places are busy with the activities of buying and selling, making the services of commercial drivers to be highly needed too.
“In terms of patronising commercial drivers in Rivers State, this month of December is better than previous months of December due to the magnanimity of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“With the early payment of December salary, implementation of the national minimum wage and the N100,000 Christmas bonus given to civil servants in the state, the services of commercial drivers are very much needed in the state during this festive period.
“The transporting of goods and passengers within the state metropolis is very high because the state civil servants now have money in their pockets to purchase goods and services in the state.
“Yes there is economic hardship caused by the economic policy of the federal government which would have negatively affected our business but the governor’s economic intervention really helped to keep us in business,” he said.
