1st May, 2015
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
of Bayelsa State
As workers in Nigeria celebrate Workers’ Day, the Bayelsa Development Forum, a socio-political organization has lauded the Governor Henry Seriake Dickson led government in Bayelsa state for religiously meeting its salary obligation to workers in the state, since the inception of the administration.
Speaking to journalists, after an emergency meeting of Forum in Yenagoa, the President, Comrade Agidigbo Koriakede and Secretary, Ebisintei Ebiowoubo, also commended the Governor for his friendly disposition, which has ensured a harmonious relationship between the administration and labour in the State.
Describing the Governor as a labour friendly leader, the Forum noted with satisfaction, the administration’s commitment to the prompt payment of salaries and allowances of workers, when so many States in the country have failed to pay salaries for months, occasioned by the economic down turn in the Country.
The Bayelsa Development Forum equally expressed satisfaction with the cordial working relationship and unity of purpose among the various arms of Government, which according to them, has largely been responsible for the massive infrastructural development across the State.
While enjoining Governor Dickson to remain focused, they also called on labour in the State to always support the administration in the implementation of its development agenda for the State.
In a related development, an elder statesman and Chairman, Governing Council of the Bayelsa State College of Health Technology, Chief Thompson Okorotie, has commended the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, the Trade Union Congress, TUC and other affiliate unions in the State for their sense of maturity, understanding and patriotism in their dealings with the administration of Hon. Seriake Dickson in the State.
Chief Okorotie, who made the commendation, while addressing the inaugural meeting of the Governing Council and the management of the College at Otuogidi in Ogbia Local Government Area of the State, also expressed gratitude to the Bayelsa State Governor for the current efforts at settling the backlog of pensions and gratuities inherited from the previous administration as well as 6 months of 18% salary arrears owed civil servants.
According to him, the action of the Governor has ranked him as one of the most labour friendly leaders in the Country, stressing that, he has always accorded priority to the welfare of workers, realizing that they are the engine room as well as an integral part of the success of any Government.
Chief Okorotie, who is also a second republic legislator in the old Rivers State House of Assembly, urged workers in the State not to allow themselves to be used by mischief makers and self seeking politicians, who do not mean well for them and the people of the State.
He used the opportunity to call on both labour and the Government to maintain the existing level of understanding between them for the overall benefit of the people of the state.