From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Hon Odoh Ugwu, has assured sweepers of prompt payment of their monthly salaries.
The sweepers, who are casual staff of the Ministry, had gone to the Ministry to familiarize themselves with the new Commissioner and to also register their plights and challenges especially as it concerns arrears of salaries owed them.
Speaking during the visit, their leader, Mrs. Bridget Agedar congratulated Mr Ugwu on his appointment as Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change and informed him that the previous administration was owing them a backlog of salaries running into over five months.
Mrs. Agedar who urged the commissioner to consider improving their working conditions also appealed to the commissioner to take their plight to the state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, to enable him to pay them.
She, on behalf of her members, pledged their unwavering support to the commissioner saying they would do their job diligently as a way of contributing their quota to enable him to succeed in his assignment.
Responding, the Commissioner assured the workers that their welfare and well-being were of utmost importance to the state government and his ministry in particular, and promised to create an enabling environment for them to carry out their duties effectively.
Ugwu who stated that the value of their work in promoting a clean and healthy environment for the residents of Makurdi metropolis cannot be over-emphasized, pledged that the state government will support them by providing the necessary tools and equipment they need to function.
The Commissioner acknowledged their concerns and expressed his commitment to addressing them saying because of the importance of their work, he would inform the Governor of their current situation with immediate effect.