The Akwa Ibom State Executive Council has ended her weekly meeting with a call on labour leaders in the state to call off the on-going industrial action, and allow workers to return to work.
This was contained in a release by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Aniekan Umanah
The Council meeting presided over by Governor Godswill Akpabio with members of the executive in attendance resolve that since the demands of N18,000 minimum wage had been agreed and is being implemented by the State Government, it was therefore unnecessary for labour leaders to have embarked on another strike in the state.
The Council reasoned that being a listening government, Chief Akpabio’s administration welcomes dialogue with labour at any point in time in view of the premium placed on the welfare of the workers in the State.
It noted that the government of Chief Akpabio, since inauguration in 2007 has been well disposed to improved working conditions for workers, and was first to implement the new minimum wage regime, a decision that led to the release of over N16.2billion for payment of salaries and outstanding arreas occasioned by the increment, with effect from April 2011.
The Governor-in – Council, Chief Akpabio recounted that labour never went on strike for the State Government to introduce the 13th month salary christened Akpabiomber, and other benefits to workers in the state.
Governor Akpabio also said that pension to retired civil servants in the State where raised, and government implemented a 27.5 percent salary increment for teachers in the state without waiting for any industrial threat.
The policy of the State Government in the current year, as enumerated by the governor was also worker-friendly, as the 2012 budget provided N66b for recurrent expenditure, to carter for the needs of workers.
The exco agreed that for meaningful development to effectively continue in the State, there was need for the labour unions to embrace dialogue with the government, adding that caution should be taken before decisions are reached, to avoid mortgaging the future of the state.
Commissioner Umanah enumerated some of the labour –friendly policies of Governor Akpabio to include; recruitment of over 2500 junior and about 2000 senior staff into critical areas of need in the Civil State Service; approval for recruitment of about 2000 teachers into the school system, approving N100,000.00 increase in Pension for all retired Permanent Secretaries and 20% increase across the board for other retirees;
Similarly, the Executive Council after a review of the activities at the Tropicana Entertainment Center noted the increase population at the Cineplex occasioned by the seasonal bonanza announced by the government. In line with this, and to ensure the continuous benefits are enjoyed by the people, Government approved the extension of the N100 bonanza regime to January 31st 2012. The viewing time for the cinema is now 11am to 10pm daily.
The Governor-in-Council also directed the immediate installation of close circuit gadgets, scanners and round the clock surveillance at the complex to ensure the protection of live and property at the complex.