Bayelsa deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has assured members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and workers of state-owned tertiary institutions of the state government’s continued commitment to their welfare.

Mr Ewhrudjakpo gave the assurance at separate meetings with the executives of the state’s  branch of the NMA and representatives of the various state-owned tertiary institutions, in Yenagoa on Sunday.

The deputy governor said that the Gov. Douye Diri-led administration had never treated issues concerning workers with levity right from its inception in 2020.

He said that the Bayelsa government was among the first few states that approved and immediately implemented the current minimum wage, because it believed every worker was worthy of a fair wage.

Mr Ewhrudjakpo assured the NMA and workers in the state-owned tertiary institutions that the present administration would continue to ensure that no worker was deprived of his or her legitimate entitlement.

On the issue of upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) for medical doctors, he clarified that it would be addressed through the Minimum Wage Implementation Committee and directed the NMA to nominate two of its members to be part of the committee.

He decried the situation where some labour unions issue ultimatums for strike in the midst of negotiations, describing such practice as illegal and alien to the extant labour laws of the country.

He said: “first of all, I want to state this. I am not too sure that any labour law states that while negotiations are going on you give an ultimatum or warning for going on strike. It is never done anywhere.

“There are conditions or precedents leading to strike. One of them is that there is a complete breakdown of negotiations. Our negotiations are still ongoing, so your notice of warning strike is not justified.

“Our high-powered Committee on the Review of Implementation of the New Minimum Wage is working round the clock to address all the issues arising from the implementation in the state.

“This administration will not play with workers’ welfare. We will continue to treat them fairly.

“It would interest you to know that Bayelsa is one of the few states in the country that have implemented the new National Minimum Wage so far,” he said.

Mr Ewhrudjakpo directed all state-owned tertiary institutions to pay revenues from registration and school fees to a dedicated bank account.

He added that the move would, among other benefits, help to improve the internally generated revenue of the state.

The deputy governor urged academics not to rest on their oars to produce quality graduates for industry, leadership and academia.

Earlier, the chairman of the NMA, Bayelsa Branch, Wilcox Izibeya, lamented the avoidable exodus of qualified medical personnel from Bayelsa. 

He called on the government to quickly address the issue of reviewing CONMESS and the payment of the accruable arrears.

Also, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Niger Delta University,  Allen Agih, and his counterpart  in The University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Solomon Ebobrah, welcomed the policy initiative and called on government to create opportunities to meet more frequently.

 (NAN)