From Odi Chukwuma, Abakaliki.
The Ebonyi State government led by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is not happy with the thirty thousand naira minimum wage salary paid to workers of the state. The Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Leonard Uguru stated this during an interactive general meeting with workers of the ministry at the Centenary City, Abakaliki.
He observed with dismay that there is no civil servant and family who can manage one thousand naira every day considering the high transport fare and other teething economic realities on the ground. Adding that the state government will soon unveil a comprehensive welfare package on areas of transportation, staff housing and other incentives that will make workers happy and appeal to the civil servants to support this government. In his words, "When staff are thinking well and feeding well they will not easily fall sick and jeopardize performance. Poor remuneration of staff is the reason for poor thinking and the sickness which resulted to the prevalent poor attitude to work, low productivity, gossips, aggression and lack of ethical standards in the workforce".
Dr . Uguru warned that corruption, indolence, bribery and bad attitude to work in any form will henceforth attract instant punishment noting that " lateness to work and absenteeism will not be tolerated."
He charged workers of the ministry to embrace his open door policy by coming up with good ideas that will move the state forward and reiterated that a symbiotic relationship and maximum cooperation are the prerequisites for staff welfare packages.
The erudite scholar further opined that the difference between effectiveness and efficiency is to do the right thing and not do things right. He advised staff who are tired of doing the right thing to write a resignation letter and create a chance for those who are ready to work.
Speaking on the time allotted for prayers, the commissioner who believes in productivity described participants in the weekly exercise as being influenced by religious bandwagon, a time-wasting venture and directed that prayers should be done once a month.
On her vote of thanks, the HOD Debt Management Office, Mrs Queen Elizabeth Anyigor on behalf of all staff thanked the commissioner for allowing workers to meet with him, to unveil policies, and welfare packages and most importantly to guide everyone so that the ministry can work as a team like before. She pledged the readiness of the entire staff to work tirelessly with the commissioner for the good of all and advised workers to be guided and to obey directives so that together the state can move forward.
Odi Chukwuma is the Head, of Public Relations, at the State Ministry of Finance.
