Pay backlog of promotion arrears before you leave office -Group tasks Gov Dickson

 By Ajibola Expenses

A group under the aegis of Bayelsa Coalition for Dynamic Change (BCDC) has appealed to the outgoing Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson to consider as  matter of urgency to pay all backlog of promotion arrears owed workers in the state before he hand over power to the incoming administration on February 14, next year.

Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state

The body in a press statement issued in Yenagoa signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Austin Genesis said the appeal has become imperative, pointing out that apart from the fact that it would alleviate the plight of workers in state arising from the 2016 economic recession, it will go a long way to reduce the financial burden of the incoming administration considering the billions of naira debt the state is currently owing.

The body added that the move will also serve as a parting gift to workers in the state by the present administration of Governor Dickson.

The BCDC which is made up of professionals from different walks of life from Bayelsa state origin commended Governor Dickson for the achievements so far recorded by his administration and pleaded to assist the workers before he leave office.

The group recalled that as a Governor who is nicknamed Talk-na-do, it deems it necessary to fulfill his pledge to workers and the Nigeria Labour Congress on the occasion of this year’s Workers Day Celebration at Peace Park in Yenagoa, where Governor Dickson was physically present and made the promise which was widely circulated in the print, electronic and social media during the Worker’s  Day Celebration in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on the 1^st of May, 2019, when the State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)  in it address presented at the event, read by the State Chairman, Comrade Bipre John Ndiomu appealed to the Governor to pay promotion arrears and he accepted to effect the payment.

But, it is sad to note that the Talk-na-do Governor after his promise to pay promotion arrears to workers, uptill now has not given the Accountant-General the go ahead to effect the payment, thereby frustrating workers hope to use the money to address their critical problems before the Christmas Day.

The NLC State Chairman address read thus “Congress wish to commend His Excellency for lifting the embargo and the directive for the implementation of promotion and annual increment with effect from May 1^st 2019. While we await the implementation as directed, we do hope that the arrears of the promotion from 2015 to date will be cleared before the end of this administration as promised by His Excellency, “The talk-na-do-governor” of Bayelsa state.”