Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has said that he would not support any move for the downward review of the present minimum wage, despite the financial hardship facing the state.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the welfare of civil servants, Governor Dickson maintained that, rather than reduce the minimum wage, as being advocated in some quarters, his administration would do everything within its reach to create a more enabling environment for civil servants to discharge their duties effectively.
He restated his commitment to the training and re-training of public servants in 2016, adding that this would promote human capacity building, which is one of the cardinal points of his administration.
The Governor, who revealed that the state was yet to receive its monthly allocation from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, however said he has directed the state financial team to liaise with financial institutions to effect payment of workers and pensioners.
Calling on workers to show more understanding, Governor Dickson explained that, the present economic comatose was not peculiar to Bayelsa State.
He gave the assurance that the government would not renege on its promise of making the state civil service one of the best in the country.
“Civil servants are so important to us so we will do more about their training and welfare. I think we will meet with them more regularly next year because they need to show more understanding as we move forward.
“Bayelsa is committed to the minimum wage. I don’t believe in reducing the minimum wage at all. I’m rather even in support of doing more things to make living better for civil servants, after all, they are our brothers and sisters.
“I have always told civil servants that, they are the landlords while I am the tenant. Now my tenancy has been renewed for another 4 more years. We are just waiting for the lease to be signed, sealed and delivered by INEC on the 9th of January 2016.
