Otu Assure Workers Of Better Days Ahead, Solicit Synergy For Mutual Benefits
By Ekanem Asuquo
Governor Bassey Otu has pledged the readiness of his administration towards improving the well-being of workers in the state service through enhance remuneration package and conducive working environmen.
Governor Otu gave the assurance when he addressed protesting labour leaders yesterday in Calabar.
The Governor, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, lauded the protesting workers for their peaceful and coordinated manner of presenting their concerns before government, declaring support for labour over dwindling standard of living in Nigeria.
"There is hunger in the land. Of course, we know. We promised to run a 'People First' government. If the people are hungry, there is no way this will happen.
"His Excellency, Governor Bassey Otu is not here today. He is in Abuja for the Labour Committee meeting, pushing for government to consider improving worker's welfare in the country.
"We know that the present minimum wage of workers is not enough to measure us with the level of inflation in the country.
Prices of goods are high. Salaries ought to go up, too. That is why as government, we have made sure that the N10,000 palliative is paid to every civil servant.
"We also made sure that the N5,000 Christmas bonus was paid to all civil servants in the State. We have gone ahead to pay WAEC fees for Cross River students preparing for examinations.
"We have done that as a government and will continue to do more.
The government of Prince Bassey Otu will take care of the plight of workers," he assured.
On the issue of retired workers still occupying government offices, the deputy governor charged labour to assist Otu-led administration to weed out such elements to create room for growth of other workers and the employment of new ones.
He sued for synergy to reposition the service for optimum productivity and transparent nominal roll reflective of current work force stressing that government will not tolerate complicity over the disturbing bloated wage bill Speaking Cross River State NLC Chairman, Comrade Gregory Olayi, said workers were protesting the current excruciating economic realities rattling the masses across the country.
He lamended that workers salaries have become grossly inadequate to cater to the basic needs and called for drastic economic policies to arrest the economic challenges.
Comrade Olaiyi lauded Governor Otu for the palliative intervention to civil servants in the state, urging the government to do more in view of the current economic situation
