…Says it won’t pay less than pay less than N70,000 prescribed by law

By Ochuko Akuopha

ASABA – THE State Government has resolved to commence discussions with the State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on the implementation of the new minimum wage.

It said it would not pay less than the N70,000 prescribed by law, disclosing that it has directed the Secretary to the State Government Dr. Kingsley Emu and the Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije, to begin the talks with NLC.

The State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza disclosed this in a post-Exco briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at Government House, Asaba, saying that the discussion was expected to be concluded in a week.

The talks between government and the organized labour, Osuoza said, would revolve around the consequential adjustments of the new minimum wage.

Osuoza said Governor Oborevwori briefed Exco about the prevalent hardship in the economy and directed the Commissioner for Agriculture and the Chief Job Creation Officer to bring up programmes that would cushion the effect of the hardship, especially on youths across the state.

According to him, Exco approved the appointment of Obi Sunday Ubaka Ogboli as Obi of Issele-Mkpitime in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.

Osuoza also disclosed that Exco also approved the reconstruction of the 30.5km Ohoror-Bomadi Road; Construction of the Olomoro-Igbide Road 5.7km; Construction 4.8km Emevor-Ivrogbo-Orogun Road Phase 2; 1.3km Otekpo Road in Ellu, Idumu-Etiti Street with a spur to market Road, Owere-Olubo 1km.

Others, he said, include Rehabilitation and Asphalt overlay of failed sections of the 2.8km NNPC Housing Complex Road, Uvwie Local Government Area, Ekeye-Ovedhe close in Okumagba Layout, Warri; General Hospital Road Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area; Old Sapele Warri Road from Amukpe Junction to Ikwuehu with spur to Ayemidejor Close in Sapele Local Government Area and the 15.7km Orerokpe-Okulohor-Oviri Road; and the 13.296km Osubi, Okuokoko and environs Phase 1.

Also approved were Internal Roads and drains in Kurutie, Obitobon-Elolo-Ajaokurogbo-Orubu Road Phase 2 Ogidigben 1.5km; Kurutie Internal Roads Phase 2 1.9km; Old Sapele to Amukpe to Ikwewu Community with a spur Ayemidejor Close in Amukpe 3.59km, Okeye and Iyke Oputa Street, Aboh in Ndokwa East Local Government Area and Issele-Azagba-Otulu 2.7km in Aniocha North and South Local Government Area.

Speaking to newsmen at the briefing, the State Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr Charles Aniagwu said the approvals buttresses Governor Oborevwori’s Meaningful Developments plans across the state with 23 out of 25 local government areas directly impacted by the Exco approvals.

On the approval for the reclamation of gully erosion along Okpanam-Ibusa Bypass Road, the State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads) Comrade Reuben Izeze said the approval would enable the state government reclaim areas affected by gully erosion for the sustainability of the new road.

On his part, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme said: “His Excellency in his good wisdom, gave approval for the Ministry of Health to procure two CT scanning machines, one for Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara and the other one for the Central Hospital, Warri.

“These are tertiary institutions training resident doctors and these machines are needed some of our resident doctors to get accreditation. So it is a good thing for the state government to acquire these machines for the two tertiary institutions in the state,” he said.

He also disclosed that the Ministry of Health has gotten approval to renovate over 150 primary health centres across the state .