Wabba: Dickson will be first governor to pay new wage

President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ayuba Wabba is hopeful Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson will be the first governor to pay an approved minimum wage.

According to a statement by the governor’s media aide, Fidelis Soriwei, Wabba described Dickson as a forthright leader, “who does not pay lip service to any agreement reached with labour”.

The labour leader was delivering a goodwill message at the opening of the 2018 Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council in Yenagoa.

According to him, Dickson’s utterances and actions over issues of government-labour relations speaks volumes of his understanding of the dynamics of collective bargaining and respect for the rule of law.

Wabba thanked the government for hosting the Joint Negotiating Council meeting for two consecutive times.

He said: “In the public sector, collective bargaining agreements have been heavily politicised as a perspective to political correctness, devoid of genuine interest in the welfare of workers. This is the reason many states owe workers’ salaries and pensions.

“I want to thank His Excellency for what he did during the last payment of the Paris Club Refund, because we made a case to the Presidency that despite releasing the funds, its impact has not been felt. The President authorised the CBN not to pay until there is a liaison between it, NLC and state governments.

“I must say that Governor Dickson was one of the first to allow the state council have a written agreement, which was transmitted to us and that is being respected. I must thank you for honouring an agreement that was made in a gentleman manner.”

Chairman of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council and Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Federal Civil Service, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, praised Dickson for his efforts at maintaining industrial harmony.

She said: “Governor Seriake Dickson is a man of his words. His uncommon commitment to the welfare of public servants has been demonstrated once again in his provision of excellent facilities and logistics to ensure a conducive environment for the success of this meeting.”

Dickson, who opened the meetings, acknowledged the contributions of public servants towards policy implementation and national development, describing them as the drivers of progress in government.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to promoting the welfare and wellbeing of workers within limits of available resources and extant labour laws.

According to him, the public service reforms initiated and implemented by the administration provided the enabling environment for the government to employ fresh hands, especially graduates, to enhance productivity and service delivery.

He promised to maintain the prevailing harmonious government-labour relationship in the state.