Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole says the state government has cancelled post-service promotion of civil servants, saying workers will now be promoted as at when due.
He however assured labour unions in the state of government’s support to improve the quality of life of the working class.
Speaking during a visit by the new executive of the Trade Union Congress, TUC on him, in his office, Oshiomhole said “the state government will cooperate with the Unions because the primary purpose of government is the quality of life of the people.”
On workers’ promotion, the Governor said: “We are going to update the promotions exercise because I have cancelled the idea of promoting people after they have retired because it makes mockery of the whole idea of promotion.
“If somebody retires in 2010 and two years later is promoted and he continues with his retirement. For me that is very ridiculous, so we have stopped that. The Head of Service has made the point that to avoid that, is to ensure that people are promoted as at when due,” he added.
He added that “we have to clear the backlog of arrears and sustain it with huge financial implications. God has brought us here not to lament, He has brought us here to correct the ills of the past and put the state on the path of sustainable development.”
The Governor who congratulated the new executive of the TUC in the state, urged state governments in the country to learn to work in collaboration with the unions because the primary purpose of unions is the promotion of the quality of life of members and quality of the life of working class families.
“The essence of governance is to improve the quality of life of the people and working family is a huge part of the populace. Therefore our mandate and your mandate is not in conflict whatsoever. Our purpose in government is to improve on the welfare of the people and your union is to deliver quality service to the people. I want to assure you that it is consistent with our mandate to work with the unions and deliver quality service to the people,” he noted.
He called on government at all levels to collaborate with labour unions to improve on the quality of life of the people and he assured that the government will work out modalities to eradicate all forms of delay in effecting the promotion of workers. Edo State Chapter of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC yesterday thanked the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for being a worthy model of workers and for moving Edo Civil service to a much higher level.
The outgoing Chairman of the TUC, Comrade Joe Aligbe who led the newly elected Executives to the Government House attributed the success achieved during his tenure to the policies of the state governor.
“My achievements include the prompt payment of workers’ salaries, promotion of workers and the employment scheme which has absolved a large number of youths in the workforce.
“Our collective achievements was due to the fact that the Comrade Governor was there for us during my tenure. The workers were paid as at when due, civil servants could move to level seventeen. We owe much to you for the achievement, we are successful because you are very accessible,” he added.
The new chairman of the TUC, Comrade Charles Oronsaye who was introduced along with other members of his executive to the governor thanked the governor for moving Edo State to a much higher level.
“This goes to prove that the best managers of wealth are those who create the wealth. As a former labour leader as far as workers’ issues are concerned you remain a model. You have proved a worthy model among the state governors,” he noted.
