By Barachel Ukuta & Samuel Ogude
Comments have continued to trail the much expected by civil servants their salaries’ increment by the Federal Government . This time is around is nobody but the Committee for the Defence of Committee for Human Rights(CDHR). Speaking to newsmen days after May 1, Workers’ Day, the National President, Committee for Defense of Human Rights, Comrade (Dr) Prince Kehinde Taiger, said what civil servants need in Nigeria is not just increments in their salaries but living wage as increments can not take them home. According to him, Nigerian workers should not demand for salary increment but advocate for living wage as that is what is capable of catering for all their basic needs.
In his words:”Salary increment is not something Nigerians should be crying for, what they should be crying for is living wage. Living wage is what will amount to the expenses of every Nigerian worker”.
He urged Nigerian government to prioritize the welfare of workers as it is a major shortfall of government that affects the country in all spheres. On his expectations of the forthcoming local government elections,Comrade (Dr) Taiga advised Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) to ensure it conducts a free and credible election.
In the same vein, the Chairman,CDHR, Delta State Branch, Comrade Jonathan Giama said, it is right that Delta State government to increase the salary of workers because the price of goods and services have skyrocketed. According to him,all over the world, the interest of workers is a priority to the government of the day but in Nigeria, the reverse is the case. He said even as at now, no matter the increments that would be made to the salary of workers, inflation has eaten deeply into it.
His words;” In Western World, government considers the welfare of civil servants but here in Nigeria the case is different”. He said,Delta State has full capacity to pay higher amount of increments of salary because it is one of the oil producing states that have huge allocation from federal government.
Comrade Jonathan Giama however charged the civil servants to put in their best as regards labour output as their salary is increased by the state government to justify whatever amount that they would be paid. On the forthcoming local government election, he said Delta State Independence Electoral Commission should give a level playing ground for all candidates to contest as that is only way to get a credible person to rule the people.
He said:” This time around, we should not force candidates on the people by way of selection but DSIEC should give a level playing ground for all the candidates to contest the election so to have free, fair and credible election which will culminate into people’s oriented candidate” . Comrade Giama used the medium to thank the Delta State Governor Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for preaching zero tolerance on nepotism for political office holders as that is only way the state can move forward.
He said:” I appreciate the efforts of the Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for his preaching zero tolerance on nepotism among the political appointees,this is only way the state can move to the next level”.