By Kingsley Agim
Cross River State Head of Service, Mr. Timothy Akwaji, has called on the Organized Labour to continue to partner with the State Government in order to drive productivity in the Service.
Mr. Akwaji made the call when he received in audience the leadership of the Organized Labour recently in Calabar.
Expressing his office’s readiness to partner with the Organized Labour on delivery of the Cross River project, the State’s number one civil servant quipped that it was high time Labour began to instigate decorous conduct from the workforce, with a view to engendering productivity.
In his words: “First and foremost, we must create wealth, then sit down and decide how members can benefit from the commonwealth. I believe that as we work together to advance the frontiers of welfarism for workers in the State, Labour leaders will continue to be veritable partners with government to ensure overall productivity so that benefits can accrue to both government and workers who are the engine room of government.”
Reminding his guests of Governor Ben Ayade’s Labour-friendly disposition, Mr. Akwaji pointed out that in spite of the State’s placement on the revenue chart of the federation and suffocating debts overhang, the present administration has consistently placed premium in the payment of salaries and pensions.
The Head of Service also assured the Labour leaders that government is at the verge of solving outstanding gratuity issues with the pronouncement of a minimum of 50 million naira monthly seed fund to be set aside for payment of gratuities.
He further revealed that his office is expediting action where implementation ought to begin in the following three critical areas, captured in the Memorandum of Understanding with Labour namely: the setting aside of 50 million seed fund for gratuities, commencement of payment of incremental steps, and the pay-rolling of staff recruited and verified, but not yet pay-rolled.
The top Civil Servant urged the Organized Labour to be meticulous in the approach to workers’ concerns, considering the peculiarities of the State’s financial situation; adding that Labour should opt for negotiation at all times, rather than embarking on industrial actions, an action he described as an “ill wind” that is inimical to both the masses and the government.
In his remarks, the State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ben Ukpepi, said essence of the visit was to congratulate the Head of Service on his recent appointment, as well as draw his attention to the Memorandum of Understanding entered between the government and the Organized Labour over issues bothering on welfare of workers in the State.
Comrade Ukpepi drew the attention of the Head of Service to the pending issues begging for attention, while expressing optimism that, Mr. Akwaji, owing to his reputation as a activist and proven technocrat, will mediate in the issues at hand for the betterment of both the workers and the State at large.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Cross River State Chapter of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Monday Ogbodun appealed to the Head of Service not to rest in his oars in addressing the plight of workers, pointing out that government must hearken to the welfare of staff in order to avoid industrial actions that will stall the smooth running of the State.
Also articulating his views, the Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee, Comrade Godwin Otei, pledged his Committee’s readiness to work with the office of the Head of Service and other relevant stakeholders in order to regain the lost glory of the State.
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