'It is difficult paying salaries,' Governor says

chika ebuzor

February 12, 2016 3:14 AM

Dickson also advised civil servants in the state to desist from partisan politics, payroll fraud and any act that will tarnish their image.

Governor

The Cable News reports that he said “There have to be some discussions with workers and stakeholders. We cannot be borrowing to pay salaries as we have been doing.

“Our workforce minus political appointees, we need about N4 billion to pay salaries; the situation is not sustainable and realistic because of our development agenda.”

Adding that “A lot of states are going to have crisis this year, even the federation itself will face crisis and it’s not peculiar to Bayelsa state.”

The Governor also said “It is important that the workforce in Bayelsa state should learn to appreciate these things before they jump here and there, instigated by failed politicians who couldn’t win election but know how to sponsor demonstrations of old pensioners that they couldn’t pay when they were in office.

“I don’t also believe that we should reduce the minimum wage but if our government is getting N3 or N4 billion and our wage bill is N4 billion, then there should be a discussion. I don’t believe that we need to retrench workers because of the economic downturn.”

chika ebuzor