The Cross River State Governor Sen Bassey Edet Otu, has admitted to the protesting workers of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) that “he knows there is hunger in the land.”
Governor Otu made the confession when he addressed protesting labour leaders on Tuesday in Calabar.
“There is hunger in the land. Of course, we know,” said Gov. Otu.
He promised that he would run a ‘People First’ government but noted that If the people are hungry, there is no way this will happen.
The Governor spoke to the protesting workers through his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey.
Hon Odey observed that the protesting workers coordinated themselves and presented their concerns in a peaceful manner.
He declared support for labour over dwindling standard of living in Nigeria.
On the other hand, Otu solicited support of the NLC towards sanitizing the state civil service.
He said several anomalies in the civil service have left the present administration with a bloated wage bill.
Moreover, “Governor Bassey Edet Otu, is not in Calabar today. He is in Abuja for the Labour Committee meeting.”
Accordingly, he said he was pushing for government to consider improving worker’s welfare in the country.
Also, Odey confessed that they know that the present minimum wage of workers is not enough to measure them with the level of inflation in the country.
For instance, he said prices of goods are high. Salaries ought to go up, too.
“That is why as government, we made sure that the N10,000 palliative is paid to every civil servant.”
“We also made sure that the N5,000 Christmas bonus was paid to all civil servants in the State,” Hon Odey added.
The deputy Governor said that they have paid WAEC fees for Cross River students preparing for examinations.
Nevertheless, “as a government, we will continue to do more and will take care of the plight of workers,” he assured.
On the issue of retired workers still occupying government offices.
Meanwhile, the deputy governor has charged labour to assist Otu-led administration to weed out retired workers still occupying government offices.
He said this will create room for growth of other workers and the employment of new ones.
On his part, the Cross River State NLC Chairman, Comrade Gregory Olayi, highlighted labour concerns to include stark economic realities.
During the protest he said workers salaries have become grossly inadequate to cater for their households.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Emmanuel Ogbeche, said that the labour leaders lauded Governor Otu for the palliative presented to civil servants.