Excitement and joyous mood returned to Bayelsa State on Thursday as Governor Henry Seriake Dickson ordered the immediate payment of 50 per cent of the salaries of workers in the state.
Since the announcement, workers across all the ministries, departments and agencies went jubilant, expressing hope that the trend will continue.
Many of the workers are now happy and are poised to assist the government to move the state ahead.
The governor, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, gave the directive after a meeting with the State Finance Committee in Government House, Yenagoa.
He said the directive was in fulfilment of the agreement between government with organised labour represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).
Dickson said payment of the 50 per cent salaries would commence with the Ministries and Departments which have turned in the reports of their verification exercises.
He also urged others, especially those in the education sector who were yet to turn in their verification reports to do same as soon as possible.
Dickson commended the workers for their patience and understanding, adding that the government will always strive hard to ensure that it meets its obligation to the workers and called for the cooperation of all Bayelsans.
The governor also used the occasion to renew his call on the entire people of the state, especially youths, not to allow themselves to be used by disgruntled politicians, who are bent on capitalising on the situation, which is not peculiar to the state alone, to cause a breakdown of law and order, just for their selfish and patriotic reasons”, Iworiso-Markson stated.
