Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Government has approved the immediate payment of pensions to additional 1,191 retirees from the State Civil Service.
The State Governor, Nyesom Wike, made the order during the 2022 Workers Day Celebration held in Port Harcourt, on Monday.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Governor Wike said the payment took immediate effect from the Month of April 2022, stressing that the payments were received between Thursday and Friday last week.
Governor Wike, who reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers said under his watch, salaries are paid to all workers in the public sector promptly and provides monthly overhead costs to enable them perform their functions and run their offices effectively.
“Rivers state government pays salaries to all workers in the public sector promptly and provides monthly overheads to enable perform their functions and run their offices effectively. Government has paid All outstanding monthly pensions up till date for all who have completed their biometrics.
“The governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Governor Wike approved the release of monthly pensions for additives 1,191 retirees from the Rivers State civil service, which payment took immediate effect from the month of April 2022 and was effected precisely on Thursday/Friday last week. Now Rivers state is committed to the welfare of our workers.”
Wike said government had also provides impress to all Schools under SUBEB and the Secondary Schools Board, which he noted has eliminated illegal levies to our students.
Governor Wike expressed regrets that the State NLC chairperson, Comrade Beatrice Itubo who had in the past, applauded him as a most worker friendly Governor was the first to criticize his presidential ambition.
The Governor described the theme for this year’s May Day celebration,” Labour, Politics, the Quest for Good Governance and National Development”, as apt, in view of the current socio-economic and security challenges foisted on the people of Nigeria by the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government.
While noting that the State Government has been able to surmount most security challenges to give workers in the State a safe environment to work in, Governor Wike wished all workers in the State and their counterparts world wide a happy May Day Celebration.
The Governor, who described civil servants as the engine room of government, urged public and private workers in the state to remain productive and committed to carrying out their duties.
Governor Wike assured the workers that the recommendation of the tripartite committee will be adequately addressed.
Earlier in her remarks the State Chairperson of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Mrs Batrice Itubo, appealed to the state government to act on the welfare of the state workers in payment of the National Minimum Wage arrears from April, 2019.
Itubo also called for renovation of the state secretariat complex, proper funding of tertiary institutions and inclusion of minimum wage, reinstatement and payment of over 100 workers of Ahoada West Local Government Council.
She urged the Federal Government to redouble its efforts in safeguarding the lives of the Nigerian people by tackling the security challenges facing the country.
