Dickson Orders Full Payment Of Workers’ Salaries In Bayelsa

CHANNELS TV

Ahead of the Supreme Court judgment on Tuesday, the Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has announced the commencement of the payment of full salaries, to all civil servants from the month of November.

For several months, the state workforce had been receiving 50% of their salaries as a result of the lean resources to the state, especially from the Federation Account.

This however, is about to change as the governor has now directed the State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Maxwell Ebibai, to ensure that every worker in the state gets 100% of their November salary, a move that he believes would boost their morale and increase their productivity level.

Speaking at a meeting between Labour leaders in the state and the government, the commissioner said “for the first time in Bayelsa state, the government has not been able to pay full salaries and pay as at when due, since the beginning of this year.

“We understand and we appreciate, because we all have families and relatives in the service and we know how difficult it has been.

“However, a labourer deserves his wages and government is mindful and knows that it is not in our place to make excuses to labour, that because this has happened, we cannot pay.

“It is the place of government or an employer to meet his obligation to labour.

Mr Ebibai then mentioned that the governor is grateful for their show of understanding.

The governor also noted that the action is the first step to better days that lie ahead, and thanked the workers for their commitment to duty, the loyalty they have shown to his administration and the invaluable support.

He assured them that his promise for a better Bayelsa remains sacrosanct.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite, who applauded the decision of the governor, said it is in fulfillment of the governor’s promise, and also a prove that the governor is truly a man of his words.

He recalled that Dickson had few months back, promised to restore the full salary payment to workers and noted that he had done this even in the face of the sad economic fortunes of the state.

Obuebite added that “this is a governor who has earned the sobriquet ‘talk na do’, because what he says is what he does.

“A lot of people didn’t believe him when he made the promise but ‎today he has fulfilled it, even when our allocation has not so improved,” he said.

The information commissioner thanked Governor Dickson for what he described as a pre-Christmas gift, while urging workers to reciprocate, by putting their best to improve the state civil service.

“His Excellency has done his part and it’s now left for our dedicated workers to see his action as a wake-up call and work to better the state through their various MDAs.

“I thank him and I know that he did it out of his genuine concern for their welfare,” he stated.

The state’s Trade Union Congress Chairman, Comrade Tari Dounana also commended the government for keeping to their promise, while stating that “today marks a day of consolidating the relationship between the employees and the employer”.