By Samuel Atuluku
Kogi State Head of Service, Doctor Elijah Evinemi says the present administration is committed to sustaining positive government and labour relationships
Doctor Evinemi made the remark in his office while receiving the State Joint Negotiating Council led by its Chairman, Comrade Olusegun Alemeru.
He said the smooth relationship between government and labour would ensure effective governance under the present administration, emphasizing that Kogi State has never had it so good as witnessed under the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo led administration.
According to him, the seamless implementation of minimum wage, without government interference and other workers welfare policies and programmes are indications of the Governor’s favourable disposition to workers.
The Kogi Head of Service stated that the government of the day is a listening government with the passion for workers growth and development, assuring that both government and labour would continue to work as partners in progress, urging workers to reciprocate by adding value to the system for the sake of posterity.
“The Governor is workers friendly and God is using him positively and we have to thank God that it is happening at our own time, workers should therefore play their part in order to contribute to the development of the State. The Chief servant will continue to ensure judicious utilization of available resources for the benefit of the all”, Doctor Elijah Evinemi remarked.
The Head of Service expressed appreciation to the organized Labour for its support to the administration, assuring that the government will give necessary attention to the requests of the Joint Council, particularly the recruitment of teachers and promotions cash backing.
Earlier, the Chairman of Kogi State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Olusegun Alemeru said the visit was to further familiarize with the Head of Service following his re-election for another term in office.
Comrade Alemeru who is also the State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Agricultural and Allied Employees, noted that the role of the Head of Service at engendering harmonious relationship with the labour was highly acknowledged, saying that a good working relationship would guarantee sustainable peace, growth and development.
He commended the government for its achievements so far, saying that the minimum wage implementation, prompt payment of salaries, full salary payment to local government workers, tax holiday for one year, harmonization of pensions, other infrastructural development across the state as well as the peaceful disposition are qualities of exemplary leadership.
The Joint Chairman explained that as a body responsible for collective bargaining, it would be proper to transmit to the Council, all government policies and programmes affecting workers in order to have productive results.
Comrade Alemeru expressed appreciation to the Special Adviser on Labour, Comrade Onuh Edoka for the positive roles being played in the general interest of the workforce, noting that the earlier support of the labour for the Ododo/Joel ticket has been justified.
He however appealed to the Head of Service to assist by prevailing on the government to cash back all promotions, pay annual increments and recruit into the service to address the acute shortage of manpower in the low and middle level cadres.
