Form co-operatives - HOS Urges women
…Assures prompt payment of pension and gratuity
Women in the State Civil Service have been called upon to form Cooperatives to enable them benefit from the Empowerment Programmes offered by the State Government.
The Rivers State Head of Service (HOS), Mrs. Esther Anucha made the call on Friday, June 19 in Port Harcourt when the Women Wing of the Nigeria Civil Service Union paid her a solidarity visit on the commemoration of the 2009 Civil Service Week.
Mrs. Anucha said the various empowerment packages offered by the state government through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency and the State Micro Finance Agency have not been fully accessed by Rivers indigenes, and urged them to wake up to the challenges.
She expressed delight at the visit, stressing that the commemoration of the Civil Service Week had impacted so much on service delivery and enjoined them to participate fully in all activities slated for the week so as to derive maximum benefit.
The Head of Service promised to ensure that the week is celebrated annually as it affords Civil Servants the opportunity to acquire knowledge through the delivery of capacity building lectures and the recognition and reward of committed and dedicated workers.
Mrs. Anucha also said that the on-going intensive training programmes by establishment
Bureau of her office are aimed at enhancing their service delivery potential, and urged them to take the training seriously.
Earlier in her address, the Chairperson of the Women wing of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Comrade Elizabeth Fuayefika lauded the Head of Service for her leadership qualities and achievements, and assured her of their unalloyed support.
In a related development, the Head of Service, Mrs. Esther Anucha has assured that the passage of the Pension Reform Law will lead to the prompt payment of pensions and gratuities to retired Civil Servants, if some portions of the law are amended in the interest of Civil Servants.
Mrs. Anucha gave this assurance yesterday when members of the Surveillance Committee of the State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council visited her in her office in Port Harcourt.
The Head of Service who lamented the difficulties encountered by Pensioners in the State said in order to ameliorate their plight, she recently conveyed a meeting of Pension Desk Officers and Labour Unions to look critically at the Pension Reform Law recently passed by the State House of Assembly and came up with modifications, for the success of the law.
Mrs. Anucha said if the proposed modifications are approved by the State Executive Council, retired Civil Servants would no longer encounter problems associated with payment of Pensions and gratuities.
She used the forum to enumerate some of her achievements which include the on-going intensive training programmes, regular cleaning of the Secretariat Complex, regular supply of electricity and water, installation of new lifts, provision of houses on owner occupier basis to Civil Servants" wireless internet facility in the Secretariat Complex, and Computer literacy programme, among others.
The Head of Service assured them of improved welfare services and expressed her gratitude to the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for his support and encouragement, describing him as a Civil Servant friendly Governor.
She urged Civil Servants. to .reciprocate this good gesture by being hardworking and dedicated to their duties, commended them for their patience and understanding in the difficulties encountered,' due to the introduction of the electronic payment system, pointing out that with time I all problems would be rectified.
In his address, the Coordinator of the Surveillance Committee of the State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Agorom Benneth said they were in her office to notify her of the revival of the Surveillance Committee whose function/according to him j is to maintain peace and order in the Secretariat Complex.
He described the Head of Service as dynamic and a pace-setter, and lauded her for her numerous achievements, especially the resuscitation of the Civil Service Week Celebration and the ongoing intensive training programmes, among others, and expressed their readiness to work harmoniously with her to achieve set objectives.
The Committee comprises 52 members of various unions in the Public Sector.
