Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has announced the release of N1 billion for settlement of outstanding gratuities of retired primary school teachers in the state.
The governor also announced the release of N800 million for payment of outstanding leave grants to workers in the state.
Governor Eno made this known Wednesday while addressing members of organised labour in the state protesting against the negative impact of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government at Government House, Uyo.
He commended Labour for making the protest peaceful, stating that the government, in line with the tenets of democracy and the rule of law, was not against the people driving down their demands in a manner permissible by the law.
The Governor, who thanked the workers for their support to him during the elections, assured that he was committed to improving their welfare and well-being.
“I want to commend in, a very serious term, the leadership of Labour for not allowing criminals to hijack the protest because anything we destroy that belongs to government belongs to all of us. This is very peaceful, very commendable. We are in a democracy. When people want to express themselves, peaceful protest is allowed. To carry all these placards is allowed, but what is not allowed is when it snowballs into criminality.”
He assured the people that the State government, with the A.R.I.S.E agenda as a constant reminder of its indebtedness to serving them, was already putting measures in place to ameliorate the suffering of the people and urged them to be patient as the administration’s plan for workers will keep unfolding.
The governor affirmed that the federal government has already released some palliatives to states which Akwa Ibom will soon take delivery of, adding that the state government is constituting a Palliative Committee, with membership drawn from various sectors including the organized labour and government, to work out modalities for distributing palliatives within 10 days.
“What we will do is to immediately set up a palliative committee and we will bring organized labour in there, with government so that we can sit together, know what the Federal government is bringing and what the state will add.
Give us the next 10 days let this committee sit. We will come out and announce clearly the things we are doing,’’ the governor said.
The State Chairman Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Sunny James, who presented the workers’ demands to Governor Eno, frowned at the lackadaisical attitude of the federal government to the welfare of the people.
Also, the state Chairman Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Dominic Abang, stressed the need of functional refineries to the economy and salary increment and the need to release palliatives to Micro Small and Medium enterprises to stimulate the economy, among others.
The governor was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah; Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien; Dean of College of Commissioners, Sir Monday Ebong Uko, and other members of the State Executive Council.
The protesting workers carried placards with inscriptions such as Reverse Recent Hike in Petrol Price, CNG mass transit buses for workers, resuscitate refineries, Salary increment for Workers, and Payment of Gratuity to Workers, among others.
