By David Owei, Yenagoa.

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has assured members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and workers of state-owned tertiary institutions of the state government’s commitment to their welfare.
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Senator Ewhrudjakpo gave the assurance at separate meetings with the executives of the state’s branch of the NMA and representatives of the various tertiary institutions in Government House, Yenagoa.

A statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, at the weekend, quoted the deputy governor as saying that the Governor Douye Diri-led administration has never treated issues concerning workers with levity right from its inception in 2020.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo pointed out that the Bayelsa Government was among the first few states that approved and immediately implemented the current minimum wage because it believes every worker is worthy of a fair wage.

To this end, he.assured the NMA and workers in the state-owned tertiary institutions that the present administration would continue to ensure that no worker is deprived of his or her legitimate entitlement.

On the issue of upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) for medical doctors, Senator Ewhrudjakpo clarified that it would be addressed through the Minimum Wage Implementation Committee and directed the NMA to nominate two of its members to be part of the committee.

The Deputy Governor, however, condemned the situation where some labour unions recklessly issue ultimatums for strike action to government in the midst of negotiations, describing such practice as illegal and alien to the extant labour laws of the country.

His words: “First of all, I want to state this. I am not too sure that any labour law states that while negotiations are going on you give an ultimatum or warning for going on strike. It is never done anywhere.

“There are conditions or precedents leading to strike. One of them is that there is complete breakdown of negotiations. Our negotiations are still ongoing, so your notice of warning strike is not justified.

“Our high-powered Committee on the Review of Implementation of the New Minimum Wage is working round the clock to address all the issues arising from the implementation in the state. The Committee would also look into your demand.

” This administration will not play with workers’ welfare. We will continue to treat them fairly. It would interest you to know that Bayelsa is one of the few states in the country that have implemented the new National Minimum Wage so far.

“The NMA should quickly nominate two of its members to be part of the Minimum Wage Review Committee to work with them.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the NMA, Bayelsa Branch, Dr. Wilcox Izibeya, lamented the avoidable exodus of qualified medical personnel from the state, and called on government to quickly address the issue of reviewing CONMESS and the payment of the accruable arrears.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Government has directed all state-owned tertiary educational institutions to pay revenues from registration and school fees to a dedicated bank account.

The Deputy Governor, who conveyed the directive to heads of the various institutions at the meeting, explained that the move will, among other benefits, help to improve the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state.

While urging the academics not to rest on their oars to produce quality graduates for industry, leadership and the academia, Senator Ewhrudjakpo assured the management of the schools that revenues generated monthly by the institutions would be ploughed back to them.

In their separate responses, the Vice Chancellor of the Niger Delta University, Professor Allen Agih, and his University of Africa, Toru-Orua counterpart, Professor Solomon Ebobrah, welcomed the policy initiative, and called on government to create opportunities to meet more frequently with the academia.

Others who made remarks include the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Bayelsa Medical University, Prof. Aloysius Ligha; the Provost of the College of Health Technology, Dr. Ogoun Timipa; the Rector of the Institute of Tourism, Prof. Righteous Arikawei, and and the Provost of the College of Nursing, Dr. Kenneth Wasini.

Other institutions represented at the meeting include the Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, and the Bayelsa State Polytechnic, the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, the Bayelsa State Institute of Entrepreneurship and Vocational Training.

HOSTCON Youth Council hails Senator Ned Nwoko on his new  appointment

By David Owei, Bayelsa

Youths of the Host Communities Producing Oil, Gas and Pipeline Impacted States Youth Council Of Nigeria (HOSTCON) have described as ” commendable” the appointment of the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State, Sen. Ned Nwoko as the Chairman, Senate Ad- Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft.

According to HOSTCON, the appointment of Sen. Ned Nwoko by the 10th Senate under the leadership of Sen God’swill Akpabio as a game-changer for the entire oil and gas value chain in the nation’s oil industry.

The Host Communities Producing Oil Gas and Pipeline Impacted States Youth Council Of Nigeria under the leadership of the National President, Comrade Emmanuel Fiawei Path finder, stated in a statement issued via electronic mail, that the Senator Ned Nwoko-led Committee will salvage the nation’s oil and gas sector and the economic woes of the country.

According to HOSTCON, ” it would never be business as usual for the saboteurs, both locally and internationally because he has already hit the ground running, and Nigerians would see what has never happened in the fight against oil and gas thieves no matter who they are.”

“As a round peg in a round hole, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Crude Oil Theft and Other Related Matters, his underground strategies would take these thieves by storm and surprise, and this would usher in lasting solutions in curbing the menace of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal bunkering activities in the creeks of Niger Delta region and the hinterlands.”

“The Senator Ned Nwoko we know, is a man of courage and master strategist, who has all it takes to rid the oil and gas sector of this ugly menace of sabotage by some devilish persons who have over the years stolen our common patrimony for their self aggrandizement.”

“We must say that Senator Ned Nwoko, a son of the Niger Delta understands the region so deeply and has broad knowledge about the nefarious activities of these plunders of our national wealth, and knows how to marshal out his strategies to change the ugly narrative in the oil and gas sector.”

” His appointment is highly welcomed by all and sundry and due to his pedigree and sagacity as a patriotic, detribalized, and true Nigerian leader who has distinguished himself in serving the nation with national conscience.”

“We also want to assure Nigerians that Senator Ned Nwoko’s 100 days in this saddle will end oil theft and would be resounding and reverberating because we have seen the handwriting already, and that it would bring about a stupendous growth and development of the oil and gas sector in no distant time as he had already commenced the job by leading a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, seeking a partnership with the military to curb the menace, and also has set up and inaugurated a surveillance team for overt and covert oversight on oil facilities and institutions.”

“Interestingly, the committee has called for strengthening of intelligence-sharing mechanisms, surveillance operations and fostering of seamless inter-agency collaboration to dismantle the complex networks behind crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region and across the international borders.”

“Recently, he affirmed the The committee’s unwavering commitment and sense of patriotism in its resolve to implement watertight policies, deploy cutting-edge security technology, and ensure that those who undermine the national wealth are held accountable.”

“He also said that the task at hand transcends revenue protection; it is about securing the future, bolstering economic resilience, and creating an environment conducive for national progress.”

“0We want Nigerians to be confident about Senator Ned Nwoko because his track record based on his background as an international criminal lawyer. He has the expertise to ensure these thieves are brought to justice, and also his solid performance on the floor of the Senate and impact on his senatorial district is amazing as he has moved numerous life changing motions and bills been sponsored by distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko on the floor of the Red Chambers within the one and half years under the President Bola Tinubu ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra has drastically transformed the lives of his people.”

“Therefore at this juncture, the leadership of the HOSTCON YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA, under comrade Emmanuel Fiawei Pathfinder, National Exco, elders and Board of Trustees, throw our full weight behind Sen Ned Nwoko-led Ad hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft and Other Related Matters.”

“We at HOSTCON, being the most critical umbrella body that is the ears, eyes, strength, energy and heart beat of the nation’s oil and gas producing communities in the creeks as well the strength and the life-wire of the nation’s economy will partner with the 10th Senate under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Godswill Akp, through the Chairman of the Senate Add-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Sen Ned Nwoko, the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State to join hands together for us to foster a collective responsibility to salvage the economy of our dear country by all means from the hands of this sophisticated oil thieves in collaboration with their foreign counterparts in this illicit business bent to cripple out economy.”