Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa has revealed that his administration has paid over N20 billion as gratuity arrears to retired workers since 2020.

Mr Diri stated this during the inauguration of the secretariat building of both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at Amarata, Yenagoa, on Tuesday.

The complex, built by the Bayelsa government, was inaugurated by the Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“At this fifth anniversary of our administration, we have paid over N20 billion as gratuity and pension to retired citizens,” said Mr Diri. “We will continue to ensure they receive them. Before we leave office, we will have cleared the backlog.”

Mr Diri said the edifice symbolised the harmonious relationship between labour and his administration, stressing that more would be achieved with industrial harmony.

He appreciated labour in the state for always resorting to dialogue instead of industrial action whenever there was disagreement and promised to always work with them to improve their welfare.

The governor explained that his Rivers counterpart was chosen to inaugurate the project because of his commitment to the welfare of his state’s workers.

Speaking on the issue of more homogenous states for the Ijaw ethnic nationality, Mr Diri urged the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to work towards the creation of Toru-Ebe and Oil River states.

He noted that the balkanisation of the Ijaws into different states has given them a minority status in those states, stressing that only Bayelsa was created out of the three states demanded by the Ijaws.

The governor also stated that it was an anomaly for Bayelsa to have only eight local government areas, adding that it was an injustice that the federal government should correct.

In his remarks, Mr Fubara commended the Diri administration’s worker-friendly posture.

Mr Fubara advised labour to continuously work harmoniously with the government, adding that they would be the most affected if there was an industrial crisis.

In their joint address, presidents of the NLC and TUC, represented by former Bayelsa State NLC chairman Ebipre Ndiomu and Austin Jonah, respectively, said the edifice was a testament to the collaborative efforts between labour and government.

(NAN)