Ebonyi state Governor Engr David Umahi has begged for forgiveness from workers in the state, stressing that in the course of his administration, he may have stepped on toes but according him, not intentional but for the good of the people of the state.
Umahi, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Eric Kelechi Igwe, stated this on Monday, at Pa Ngele Oruta township stadium while addressing Ebonyi workers on this year's workers day celebration in the state.
"There is no doubt I stepped on toes and offended some. It was never intentional it was the best I knew and for the good of our people, please forgive.
As I bow out, I have forgiven all those who thought they offended me. May God bless our state, our workers and our people".
He Congratulated the workers on this year's workers day celebration, chronicling the significance of the day.
"Let me congratulate our dear workers on the occasion of celebration of workers day in Ebonyi State. We all understand the significance of this celebration all over the world. This moment reminds us of the ugly past where workers were dehumanized and all forms of her rights and freedom denied them. Good to know of the resilience of the workers which gave rights to freedom and restoration of those rights hence the celebration today.
"However, in our country, though workers are said to enjoy freedom but that cannot be said of the restoration of all their rights. The policies of Government over the years do have negative and positive impacts on the rights of our workers. I want to believe that no right-thinking government will like to intentionally make policies to punish her workers.
"In our developing democracy, workers body should form the 4th tier of government and until this position is adopted by employers and employees, it may be fairly difficult for both to constructively engage for the overall good of government and her people. In most cases, we have over employment due to political, sentimental or clannish reasons. A job to be done by say ten persons is given to say, hundred persons. This situation will produce low output and small money used to cater for many workers. I strongly advocate for a constructive dialogue between Government and workers with all cards facing up. Workers welfare, her rights must be uppermost in the minds and policies of government. Workers on the other hand must know that other needs of government like security, health, education, infrastructure, agriculture etc must also form the priorities of government alongside with workers’ rights and welfare.
"In Ebonyi State, our relationship with workers when we came to office in May 29th 2015 was very cordial as most Ebonyi workers fought and voted for us. That relationship continued till 2016 when we had strained dialogue on the need for wage increase. However, this was resolved and subsequently the issue of minimum wage and medical workers’ wages come on board. Ebonyi State was among the first State in Nigeria to implement both fully. This did not actually resolve the conflict which this time was more of NLC’s leadership personal interest. However, new NLC regime came in and a cordial relationship was reignited.
"It was under this new regime that all promotion of workers’ arrears was paid, teachers’ specialized salaries started and soft agricultural loan of over Four billion Naira was given to workers to have second address. Many workers were also empowered under our general State Empowerment Scheme. What this teaches us is that dialogue and understanding between government and workers are the fastest and best methods to help workers achieve most of their rights and privileges.
"Under my administration, we have:
Created over 1500 direct jobs and 2000 indirect jobs at David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences Created over 400 direct jobs and over 1500 indirect jobs at Ebonyi Famous Mall
"Through our direct labour jobs in the State MDAs, created over 30000 direct and indirect jobs as 99% of our infrastructure were executed by these MDAs using our local people.
d. In our newly constructed President Muhammadu Buhari International Airport which the Federal Government has approved the takeover, we have created over 500 direct jobs and this will yield over 2000 indirect jobs in the next one year.
"In all other sectors like agriculture, health, education and State industries and private sector, we can say we created over 40,000 direct and indirect jobs in Ebonyi State
f. At St. Margaret Umahi International market, we have created over 10,000 indirect jobs
"In all, we can say to have created over 65,000 direct and indirect jobs. We have created four more federal institutions like David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Muhammadu Buhari International Airport and Isu College of Education
This means more income tax from both Federal employees and State employees to our government, improved welfare of the people, more funds to the economy and increased commercial activities in Ebonyi State
"Let me mention that the experience we had with the leadership of ASUU in EBSU is what no responsible leadership of NLC should advocate. How will our employee in the name of ASUU chairman be fighting her employers which are government and the management of the university. That development highly divided the university community and drew back the hands of development in that famous university. Despite that, I must commend those members of the university community and her management who stood against selfish leadership and effected a change which has resurrected a good relationship between Government and Ebonyi State University (EBSU). I therefore request the new leadership of labour never to allow such self-servicing leadership to exist in the university again".
He maintained that his administration has done well for the workers in the state, stressing that the state Government is not owing any worker in the state.
"In our covenant with God for good governance in Ebonyi State, we believe that we have done our best for our workers.
"Today we are not owing our workers salaries.
"In this month, we shall be paying off the balance of pension which stands today at about ₦480,000,000.00. good to note that no pension is owed in all our Local Government Area.
"In the areas of gratuity, the balance for state is said to be about ₦4,200,000,000.00. My government shall be paying off 25%of this balance in the month of may and next government shall pay off the balance when we get our stamp-duty refund. For LGA the actual figure being worked out
"In our covenant with God for good governance in Ebonyi State, we believe that we have done our best for our workers.
"Today we are not owing our workers’ salaries.
"In this month, we shall be paying off the balance of pension which stands today at about ₦480,000,000.00. It is good to note that no pension is owed in all our Local Government Areas.
"In the areas of gratuity, the balance for state is said to be about ₦4,200,000,000.00. My government shall be paying off 25%of this balance in the month of May and next government shall pay off the balance when we get our stamp-duty refund. For Local Government Areas, the actual figure being worked out but ₦500,000,000.00 will be paid in the month of May while the balance will be paid off with Local Government Area refund of Sure-P and stamp duty. We must note that pensions and gratuity were almost not paid from the creation of the state. My government when we came on board engaged in paying billions of naira to defray these debts and what I stated above is the status position.
"I have approved our exit package of ₦10,000.00 to all workers of state and Local Government Area which shall be added in their May salary and paid to them.
"I have approved ₦300,000,000.00 intervention fund to EBSU to further assist them in their payment of salaries while David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital and the University shall get ₦100,000,000.00 each to help them continue their infrastructure from the point where we had stopped due to no money.
"In less than Four weeks now, we shall have a new government in place. The new governor elect Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is a man who has been around and will continue the duty of governance from where we shall stop. I plead you give him peace and time to settle down
"Let me formally thank our dear workers for their partnership, love, prayers and co-operation these being eight years of my service in Ebonyi state".
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