Wike approves promotion of Rivers civil servants

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has resolved to implement outstanding promotion of the government’s workers in the state and fulfill his promise of employing 10,000 youths into the service.

The governor said that he had forwarded the list of members of the Civil Service Commission immediately to the State House of Assembly for screening to enable the commission to oversee the process.

Wike revealed this on Thursday when he received a courtesy visit of a delegation led by the chairmen of the Rivers State branch of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Alex Agwanwor and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Emechete Chuku at Government House in Port Harcourt.

He accused the former leader of NLC in the state, Beatrice Itubo of peddling lies against his administration that pensioners were owed 15 months of entitlements.

Wike said, “In fact, the former Accountant-General of the state told me yesterday that those of 2016 and 2017 have cleared, but you hear her (Beatrice Itubo) go to say that we have not paid for 15 months. That is unfair.

“How will a government, it has never happened in this state, that built a secretariat for NLC and TUC at the same time be anti-labour?”

Wike noted that Itubo was also engaged in other antagonistic activities that completely destroyed the cordial relationship that once existed between workers and the state government.

The Governor blamed her for the delay workers had witnessed in getting their due promotion but said with the new NLC executive in place, promotion would be implemented for workers expeditiously.

“Now that she has left, to welcome you, we are going to start the promotion process. I didn’t want her to take credit. You should take the credit.

“So, there is nothing the government cannot do for you if we have a good relationship. There is how you go about it. You don’t go about plotting against the downfall of a government that will also affect the welfare of your members,” Wike said.

Wike also revealed the reality of the state Civil Service has, for the first time, one of their own as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Governor wondered why Rivers workers were not excited and enthusiastic about the opportunity given to them to own the electoral process to ensure victory for Sir. Siminialayi Fubara.

He said: “So, I thought that the civil service, the union ought to have taken it up themselves to say this campaign is our own, that we are getting one of us now who will be in charge of the affairs of this State.

“The deputy (running mate) is also experienced in civil service job. She has also been a permanent secretary, became a commissioner and a lecturer.

“We don’t need to come and speak to you. You are the ones to take it upon yourselves. Can we miss this opportunity now?”

Recalling his experience, Wike said: “I am not a civil servant, so, it even took me time to understand the rudiment of civil service bureaucracy and all that.

“Now, this is somebody, who has passed through these levels; from the junior cader up to senior cader to Permanent Secretary and become Accountant-General. So, who is more qualified to preside over the state?

“It is not all these people who are in private businesses. Private business is not public service. When you come in you’ll know it’s a different ball game.”