The Delta state government is to set up a committee to look into workers’ demand for a salary increase in view of the current hardship in the country.
According to the state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborewovori, his administration has always prioritized the welfare of workers in the state. He promised to look into the issue of workers who were inadvertently omitted in the payment of promotion arrears.
Governor Oborevwori, who spoke at the 2024 Workers’ Day celebration with the theme “PEOPLE FIRST,” held at the Cenotaph in Asaba on Wednesday, commended workers in the state for their support for the emergence of his administration and for the prevailing industrial harmony across the state.
He said: “I have listened attentively to your requests and have taken note of them; they are, no doubt, legitimate demands. As a responsible government, I will deliberate with my team on how best to address them within the limits of resources available to us.
“As a government, we have prioritized the welfare of our workforce because I believe that a happy and well-motivated workforce is not only a catalyst for the growth and industrial development of any society but also the bedrock for an extended family setting and communal cohesion.
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“This administration has already demonstrated its commitment to the welfare of serving and retired civil servants, and we will continue to do so through our policies and actions.
“This is exemplified by the payment of salary arrears to state civil servants and the facilitation of a N40 billion facility to assist local governments in paying the backlog of pensions and gratuity to local government workers and primary school teachers.
“However, I have taken note that some persons were omitted in the payment of promotion arrears. It wasn’t the fault of the government because I was given the full list and was told that the amount is N5.6 billion, and said let it be paid in four tranches, and it was paid. But since the NLC Chairman has mentioned it in his speech, I will look into it.
“We are determined to deliver meaningful projects through aggressive infrastructural development, as can be seen from the numerous bridges, flyovers, and road construction and reconstruction, building and renovation of schools, healthcare facilities, and retooling and capacity building of the workforce, and human capital development in general, across the board.
“My administration is determined to deliver economic prosperity and an improved standard of living to all Deltans through collaborative effort and constructive engagement with organized labor.
“Therefore, we solicit your unflinching support and cooperation to get us to this promised land and to the Delta State of our dreams.”
Earlier, in a joint address delivered by the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, on behalf of his Trade Union Congress counterpart, TUC Comrade Martin Bolum, the labor leaders commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for honoring workers in the state by attending the Workers’ Day in person.
They commended him for his commitment to the welfare of workers and pensioners in the state and pledged their continued support for his administration’s MORE Agenda.
The labor leaders also lauded the governor for the payment of promotion arrears owed to workers to the tune of N5.6 billion but appealed to him to consider those omitted, whose entitlements, they said, tallied at N800 million.
The NLC boss, while appreciating the governor for keeping to his campaign promises to workers, said, “we want promise keepers’ politicians because, as workers, we keep records of promises.”
The 2024 May Day celebration, with the theme “PEOPLE FIRST,” was a carnival-like celebration in the State and featured a march-past by the various affiliate unions in the state.
