May Day: Obaseki Pledges Better Welfare for Edo Workers

As part of the International May Day celebration, the Edo state Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has pledged a better welfare package for workers under the state employment scheme.

Addressing thousands of workers at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City as part of Celebration to mark the 2017 May day theme: “Labour Relations in Economic Recession; an appraisal” Governor Obaseki said the government has signed a Power purchase Agreement to ensure that 24 hours electricity supply to government offices is guaranteed noting that renovation of all public offices has commenced to ensure a better environment for all workers.

Obaseki stated that a pension bureau has been inaugurated to resolve all pending problem on pension in local government areas and the state including the payment of outstanding arrears latest by June adding that the government is working with labour to build an effective health insurance scheme.

While thanking labour for giving the government necessary support, the Governor disclosed plans by the government to participate in the National Housing fund to ensure that workers across the state become house owners.

Furthermore, Obaseki said a total of 150, 000 people have already been employed under the Edo jobs initiative stating that another 40,000 people will be employed under the Agricpreneur initiative of the state government.

He said a comprehensive solution will be proffered to the menace of street trading and traffic congestion the government will not rest until the yearnings of the people are met. Also, the governor said the revenue profile of the state has been increased to enable government pay workers salaries.

According to him, “I want to assure you that I will always work hard to remove any impediments in our interactions and to ensure that our relationship is characterized by cooperation and mutual respect in our collective struggle to promote growth, development and social justice”.

“I stand with and will continue to work with the NLC and TUC and all affiliates to improve the working condition of all workers in Edo state. As governor, the expectation of our people will be better met if the Civil and Public Services perform efficiently and collaboratively.

He continued: “I am please to inform you that the government has signed a power purchase agreement which would give uninterruptable power to government establishment from October this year. I am also pleased to inform you that by the end of June we will start to rebuild the civil service training school and commence world class training program to train and retrain all workers in Edo state Civil Service so that they can provide better services to the people. We will promote those who are deserving of promotion and also train you to be productive”.

“If we are to achieve the goal of attracting business and industry to the state, we must address the issue of security. In order to combat the menace of kidnapping, robbery and armed herdsmen we are reconstructing our security infrastructure and put in modalities in place for effective security arrangement to cover the entire state”.

“The welfare of workers is of high priority to this government. We realize that there are still some problems with the contributory pension scheme but we are optimistic that any problem you are entering will be resolved because what we are doing is very transparent”. Obaseki stated.




Conclusively, Obaseki assured that “We will not owe any worker any salary due to them. We will ensure that all outstanding promotions are done. Anybody who deserves to be promoted will be promoted. We want to ensure that we change our civil service for good, nobody will be owed and in turn government demand you be efficient and deliver better services to the people of Edo state”.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Edo state chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Ademokun commended the governor on his quest to create 200, 000 jobs in the state and urged the government to be strategic and holistic in their approach to ensure that youths are gainfully employed through entrepreneurial schemes.

Ademokun also lauded the noiseless working attitude of Governor Obaseki but lamented that government has refused to employ into the state civil service noting that capable hands have left with no one to take their place thereby leaving some offices empty.

The NLC chairman also intimated the governor about the plight of primary school teachers which included the nonpayment of 2016 and 2017 leave transport grant, yet to be released 2012 promotion, nonpayment of N25, 000 minimum wage and the inability of the government to take full responsibility for the funding of primary education as ruled by the supreme court in 2012.

Comrade Ademokun urged Obaseki not to derail on the agreement reached on the Contributory Pension Scheme in the state and charged the governor to resolve issues associated with the scheme.

He also urged Obaseki to address the nonpayment of pensioners in the state and “plead with the state government to engage with the Nigeria Union of Pensioners on how to resolve the issue at stake”.

While Ademokun urged the governor to pay arrears and salaries of judicial workers as well as pardon permanent secretaries who were suspended by past administration, he said it will not be out of place if the governor builds a befitting labour house for the union.

On his part, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC Comrade Marshal Ohue charged the governor to put a final stop to the crisis lingering in Bendel Brewery so as to attract investors to revamp the facility for full production.

Also, Comrade Ohue urged the governor to make available a suitable and affordable health care scheme for workers in the state to reduce death rate in the civil service.