Gov Diri pleads with NDU lecturers on strike, says we’ll make concessions
By Jeffrey Agbo
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has made a conciliatory gesture to lecturers in the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) on strike, saying the government would make concessions to improve their welfare.
Diri appealed to the NDU chapter of the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) to call off its industrial action, which began on December 10.
The governor, who made the appeal on Wednesday during the 148th meeting of the state executive council in Government House, Yenagoa, upon his resumption from annual leave, urged the lecturers to toe the path of negotiation in the interest of the students.
Diri stressed that his administration holds lecturers in high esteem and was willing to listen to their demands.
“Let me call on ASUU that strikes should be the last resort and I invite them to come back to negotiation. The issues can be amicably resolved.
“Government is willing to ensure that the welfare of lecturers and of our workers is prioritised. Let us look at the future of our children and the younger ones. We hold lecturers in high esteem in this state,” he said.
The governor also spoke on the recalcitrance of cattle herders that flout the state’s law against open grazing, warning that the ban was still in force.
He directed government officials to ensure that the anti-open grazing law is complied with.
He also tasked community leaders to work with state officials to ensure that the law is implemented.
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Diri said the state cannot afford a situation where farmlands are destroyed by herders, adding that Bayelsa is open to all for business but the laws protecting all residents of the state must be obeyed.
The state’s helmsman also cautioned residents of the state against bush burning, saying there are better ways of farming that do not harm the people and the environment.
“We banned open grazing in this state in 2022 and it remains banned. It is a crime for any herder to destroy any farm.
“All relevant agencies are hereby directed that no herder should be allowed into our bushes. By our laws, no herder has the authority to destroy our farmlands. I call on our brothers from the north to know that in Bayelsa State you cannot do open grazing.
“All community leaders are hereby called upon to ensure that within their domain, no cattle herder is found involved in open grazing. Our laws against open grazing must be implemented to the fullest.
“Hon. Commissioner for Information, educate our people that bush burning is not an option. Let me call on our people to stop bush burning,” he said.
Diri expressed appreciation to people of the state for their support for the administration while he was on leave and urged them not to relent as government needs the people to succeed.
The governor was presented with awards received on his behalf. They include Governor of the Year on Marine and Blue Economy by the Nigeria Today Magazine, Best Security Conscious Governor by the Security Watch Africa Initiatives as well as an award from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward four, Okpoama in Brass Local Government Area and trophies won by the Bayelsa State Council for Arts and Culture at the just concluded National Festival of Arts And Culture (NAFEST) where the state emerged overall champions.
He rewarded the victorious team with the sum of N30 million.
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