A social critic and human rights activist in Bayelsa State, Comrade Bekinwariye David-West has described the recent wage padding to local government workers by the senator Douye Diri led administration as vote buying because of the November 11 governorship elections.
He stated that the State was yet to implement the 30 percent increase in the minimum wage in the local government councils, wondering why the government is in hurry to pad wages for local governments workers.
Comrade David-West who is a member of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) noted that “as we speak some local government have not implemented the 30 percent minimum wage increase and are being owed salaries between five to ten months”
The activist who spoke exclusively to Niger Delta Herald on telephone further noted that “the government set up a committee to resolve the issue of the council.
” I don’t know whether the committee has finished its work before the government hurriedly came up with wage padding on the guise of palliative for local government workers”. he said
He is of the opinion that the action of the government is an inducement of voters, with the intention to score political point, stressing that the decision was hasty.
On the ₦5 billion palliative to the State, Comrade David-West regretted that the government was keeping it secret without informing Bayelsans on how it intend to distribute the palliatives to the people.
“There is no information from the Douye Diri led government on how the ₦5 billion palliative would be distributed, hope it’s going to be shared so that every Bayelsans will benefit from it.”
“Those in the hinterland, the rural poor and vulnerable Bayelsans at the grass root should get it because they’re the ones who are grossly impacted by the subsidy removal,” he said.
He called on Bayelsans to give the newly sworn-in Minister Of State For petroleum Resources (oil), Senator, Heineken Lokpobiri the support for him to succeed in his new assignment, adding that their support and encouragement is the tonic he needs to succeed.
The activist admonished the new minister to ensure that tank farms were established in the state for the people to benefit from their God given resources.
“Now that the world is shifting towards the use of Compressed National Gas (CNG),the minister should ensure and make sure that gas is cheap and affordable for the people to enjoy the dividend of democracy” He added.
It could be recalled that the Bayelsa State Government assured that it would kick start the payment of wage awards to all local government employees with effect from this month (August) to cushion the excruciating effects of fuel subsidy removal on the workers.
The state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the assurance on Monday at a meeting with local government stakeholders including the eight Caretaker Committee chairmen, labour leaders and principal officers of the LGAs in Government House, Yenagoa.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, announced that the state government in collaboration with the local government councils would also ensure the payment of gratuities to council retirees who were yet to benefit.
He informed that government had approved 30% payment of the gratuities across board for the retirees, which would also take effect from this month.
On the wage award, the Deputy Governor, said council workers on grade level one to six will now earn N20,000 as additional salary, grade level seven to ten, N30,000, while those on grade level 12 to 14 will now have N40,000 added to their salaries.
He added that government had also approved N50,000 as wage award to council employees on grade level 15 to 17, while Heads of Local Government will earn N100,000 as additional salary.
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