Obaseki promises open administration

Gov Godwin Obaseki of Edo has promised to operate an open door policy and commended workers in the State for the trust they have in his administration.

The governor spoke at a dinner on Monday night to felicitate with members of the Nigeria Labour congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on 2017 May Day.

The dinner was held alongside an award night organised by the Edo chapters of NLC and TUC.

The governor assured that he would operate an open door policy with them provided they continued to have confidence in his administration.

“Nothing good thrives in a community where there is no trust, you have given me your trust and I will not betray that trust.

“Today marks a new dawn, I want to be able to look back and say while I was a governor, I never had an incident of strike.

“As long as you trust me, I will put every issue in front of you for dialogue’’, he said.

Obaseki promised the workers that the hosting of the Workers Day dinner would be a yearly event.

The governor said his government did not the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), from collecting dues and levies from its members in the state.

He said the present administration had adopted electronic system for revenue collection sequel to the ban on collection of taxes and levies by non government agents.

Obaseki explained that the technology was being test run so that the union would start collection of tax and levies from its members via electronic payment before the end of May.

The governor also commended leaders of the labour unions for the presentation of awards to outstanding personalities who he said had contributed immensely to the development of the state.

Chairmen of the NLC and TUC in Edo, Emmanuel Ademokun and Marshall Orhue commended Obaseki for hosting the unions’ members to a dinner after gracing the May Day celebration earlier in the day.

The duo said that the dinner went to show that the governor was workers friendly.

They added that the labour unions working with the state government would build a stronger Edo state.

Former Gov. Oserheimen Osunbor, former Deputy Governor Pius Odubu and immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Julius Ihonvbere were honoured.

The organisers of the award said it was a tradition of the labour unions to present awards of excellence to outstanding Nigerians during workers day celebration.