Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson, has attributed the prevailing harmonious Government/Labour relationship in the state to his consultative and inclusive style of governance.

Governor Dickson, who spoke while declaring open the 2018 Meeting of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council in Yenagoa, underscored the importance of the public service in translating government’s policy objectives to tangible achievements.

He said his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of workers within the ambit of subsisting labour laws as no government could succeed without the cooperation of the public workforce.

Governor Dickson expressed gratitude to civil servants both at federal and state levels for their contributions and show of understanding especially during the period of economic recession which affected the payment of their salaries.

His words: “Let me also report to you that I’m very pleased with the attitude and quality of the manpower we have in our workforce in the new Bayelsa we are building. I'm particularly appreciative of the collaboration that is existing between those of us in government and the leadership of organised labour.

“To a large extent, that is made possible because of my consultative and inclusive approach to issues, which has informed not just my politics but also in the governance of this state.

“There is no major decision we take concerning the public service that we don’t sit down and discuss and get inputs from organised labour in this state.”

In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, and President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, commended Governor Dickson for showing commitment to the welfare of workers in the country.

According to Comrade Wabba, Dickson was among the first few state governors to allow the state council to have a written agreement in respect of the payment of salary arrears owed workers from the Paris Club Refunds as requested by the Federal Government.

Assuring workers of Federal Government’s determination to improve their welfare and condition of service, Mrs. Walson-Jack, urged public servants to imbibe the tenets of integrity, merit, performance and transparency in consonance with the ethics of the public service and national development.

Also speaking, the Acting Head of the Bayelsa State Civil Service, Mr. Luka Wellington-Obiri, described as apt the theme of the meeting, “Sustaining Industrial harmony in the Public Service: An Imperative for Achieving Federal Government's Change Agenda for National Development”.

The highpoint of the opening ceremony was the unveiling and presentation of constitutions of Council one, two and three as well as that of the Joint Council by Governor Dickson.

•Photo by Michael Owi shows Governor Seriake Dickson (2nd L), supported by his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah Retd (2nd R), Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation & Chairman of Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack (L), President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba (3rd R), and the National President, National Association of Nigeria Nurses & Midwives and Joint Chairman of Council, Comrade Abdrafiu Alani Adeniji (R), unveiling the Constitutions of the Councils, during the 2018 meeting of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, at the Harold Dappa Biriye Conference Centre, Creek Haven Resort, Yenagoa.