The Nigeria Labour Congress, Bayelsa State, the state’s Trade Union Congress and their affiliate bodies have endorsed the ‘No work, no pay’ policy of the state government, it has been learnt.
The endorsement was said to be a part of measures geared towards making the public service more result-oriented.
The organized labour unions in a joint meeting held with Governor Seriake Dickson in Government House, Yenagoa, was said to have lent support to the government towards the effective implementation of the policy.
A statement emanating from the Government House on Saturday indicated that the state Chairman of the NLC, John Ndiomu, and his counterpart in the TUC,Tari Dounana, agreed to the policy.
They said the policy would go a long way in checking acts of indiscipline such as absenteeism, truancy and politicisation of the service.
They also applauded the state government for its decision to commence full payment of salaries to workers with effect from January 2017, urging the civil servants to desist from acts that could jeopardise their career in the service.
The labour unions’ leaders reportedly lauded Dickson’s decision to set up committees and sub-committees involving representatives of the various unions in addressing issues of the civil service.
Dickson was quoted as calling on the leadership of the various unions to be part of the process in the implementation of the planned reforms, aimed at inculcating work culture and professionalism in the public service.
Dickson assured the workers that the state the government would strive to meet its salary obligation, as and when due.
He described 2016 as a very challenging year and gave kudos to the labour unions and workers generally for their show of understanding during the period.
He said the December 2016 salary would be treated as backlog, noting that in no distant time the government would defray the outstanding arrears of salaries for last year, when the economic situation improved.
According to him, if all stakeholders join hands with the government to implement its policies, particularly in the public service, the government will remain committed to its obligation in the overall development of the state.
He, therefore, called on the NLC and TUC to be part of the reform process of the service in tackling the excesses of workers and entrench work ethics in the public service.
Also, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obuebite, commended the labour unions for their endorsement, thanking them for their support.
In her remarks, the House Committee Chairman on Establishment, Mrs. Ebiowou Koku-Obiyai urged workers to be committed to their duties in order to justify their wages.
Shedding light on the development in a telephone interview on Saturday, the state TUC Chairman, Mr. Tari Dounana, said apart from endorsing the policy, the organised labour also urged the government to ensure regular payment of salaries.
The TUC chairman stated, ”The policy of ‘no work, no pay’ is not a new policy. It is part of the civil service rule.
”We are demanding that the regular payment of salaries should be there so that workers can be punctual in their jobs. Once the payment of salary is regular, people must work to earn a living. It is just that the government is making the policy to look differently.”
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