By Amos Okioma
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has attributed the prevailing harmonious Government/Labour relationship in the state to his consultative and inclusive style of governance.
Dickson, who spoke while declaring open the 2018 Meeting of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council in Yenagoa, underscored the importance of the public service in translating government’s policy objectives to tangible achievements.
He said that his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of workers within the ambit of subsisting labour laws as no government could succeed without the cooperation of the public workforce.
Governor Dickson expressed gratitude to civil servants both at federal and state levels for their contributions and show of understanding especially during the period of economic recession which affected the payment of their salaries.
His words, “Let me also report to you that I’m very pleased with the attitude and quality of the manpower we have in our workforce in the new Bayelsa we are building. I’m particularly appreciative of the collaboration that is existing between those of us in government and the leadership of organised labour.
“To a large extent, that is made possible because of my consultative and inclusive approach to issues, which has informed not just my politics but also in the governance of this state.
“There is no major decision we take concerning the public service that we don’t sit down and discuss and get inputs from organised labour in this state.
Dickson who used the opportunity to highlight some of the achievements of the state government, noted that his administration’s comprehensive reform programme has provided the enabling environment to promote workers welfare and productivity.
According to him, “Between the last time you came to Bayelsa and now, so much new and wonderful things have taken place. In very few days from now, people will land in one of the best airports in our country built here by my administration.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack and President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba commended Governor Dickson for showing commitment to the welfare of workers in the country.
According to Wabba, Governor Dickson was among the first few state governors to allow the state council to have a written agreement in respect of the payment of salary arrears owed workers from the Paris Club Refunds as requested by the Federal Government.
Assuring workers of Federal Government’s determination to improve their welfare and condition of service, Mrs. Walson-Jack, urged public servants to imbibe the tenets of integrity, merit, performance and transparency in consonance with the ethics of the public service and national development.
