By Oye Chukwujekwu,
Asaba
Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that his administration was committed to highly skilled, merit-driven and integrity-based public service.
The governor spoke during the Workers’ Day celebration after taking the traditional salute from affiliate unions of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Asaba, Delta State.
He said that apart from ensuring a public sector driven by professionalism, his administration was committed to zero tolerance for corruption.
“As encapsulated in the Delta State Medium Term Development Plan, we are irrevocably committed to the creation of an effective, efficient, highly skilled, merit-driven and integrity-based public service,” the governor said, adding, “Our goal is to build a public sector management driven by professionalism, projects performance and zero tolerance for corruption because, that is the only way we can entrench good governance in the polity and needless to say, we need the support and cooperation of the labour movement to make this goal a reality.”
The governor commended Nigerian workers, especially, those in Delta State for their dedication to duty which he said contributed to build Delta State from its inception in 1991, stating, “through your belief, sacrifice and labour, we have made great progress as a state.”
He, however, said, “As we gather here today, the Nigerian worker, like all other citizens, is confronted with economic adversity; more and more families are finding harder and harder to stay afloat as the recession bites harder and inflationary trend continues; the current scenario poses a serious challenge to government and other employers of labour to keep workers motivated, happy and satisfied.
“Our administration has made the welfare of workers a top priority, while working to ensure better relations between the private sector and the government.
“it is in recognition of the unique role that workers play in delivering government policies and programmes that from the inception of this administration, we made the payment of workers’ salaries, the first line of charge.”