Our plan is bigger than your 18-seater bus request, Agbateyiniro tells NULGE as he discloses policy on IGR

The Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Comr. Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, says his administration has bigger plan for Warri South Local Government Council branch of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, compared to the Union’s request for a new 18-seater bus.

The Warri South Local Government Boss, who made the disclosure Monday July 29, when he received the leadership of Warri South chapter of NULGE, assured that providing a conducive working environment for the Council’s workforce, was part of his Warri Brand project.

Comr. Agbateyiniro, averred: “I will appeal for some sacrifice of time, let us see what we can do outside our working environment, we want to make significant progress, we will definitely come back home. Everywhere in this local government, will be branded. Within the limits of available resources, we will make our working environment conducive.

“For the vehicle, what we have in mind is bigger than what you have requested, within the context of branding, with available fund, we will make Warri South Council the envy of other Councils.

“For transformer and electrification, we will hear from other departments, particularly, from the Department of Works, that’s why this meeting is very important, to enable us position ourselves properly, to start dealing with issues internally.”

Comr. Agbateyiniro, promised to accommodate two representatives of NULGE and the Council’s Head of Legal Department, in the newly inaugurated Warri South Council Revenue Committee and revealed plans by his administration, to explore avenues of increasing the internally generated revenue profile of Warri South Local Government.

The Chairman of NULGE, Warri South Local Government Council, Comr. Raymond Emiko, had presented a plethora of demands, bothering on staff welfare and conducive working environment to the Warri South Local Government Chief Executive.

Comr. Raymond Emiko (left) speaking, while Comr. Weyinmi Agbateyiniro (right) & others, listen

Comr. Emiko, in his opening remarks, stated: “The union was founded in 1978, immediately after the 1976 local government reform. Our main aim is not to fight the leadership of local government, but to make sure issues of our welfare are being taken care of. We are here to say we are happy that one of us is now the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area.

‘For those who don't know, the Chairman is a Comrade and has been the Chairman of Association of Senior Civil Servants in DESOPADEC, before becoming the Commissioner for Youth in Delta State and now the Executive Chairman of the Local Government.

“The union in Warri South Local Government stands for dialogue. Dialogue is always our Watchword. And we see anybody that comes to work with us as partners in progress.

A cross section of Warri South NULGE leadership. 5^th right is Comr. Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, Hon. Kingsley Edafiadjebre (6^th right) & Comr. Raymond Emiko (7^th left)

“We have a plethora of demands, which have been here before you came. Successive administrations, have been taking care of them partly and constantly. When the tenure of the last regime ended, a lot happened during the transition period. The Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, asked that we come up with our level of indebtedness and he tried to the best of his abilities, but that was just a scratch on the surface. As much as the governor tried to do something about it, the burden is still there, piling up.

“Mr. Chairman Sir, in this union, we have a monthly obligation that management usually gives to staff, through the union, we call it stipends. During this period, the stipend was unpaid. It was not part of what the governor released. We want to appeal, now that you are at the helm of affairs, that you look into that area critically for us, because the times we are now, are very hard. Our salary used to be referred to as our take home pay, but our take home pay no longer takes us home. It is the small argumentations that we get from management, we use to support ourselves.

“We just want to say, as a union, we want to appeal that we need an 18-seater bus. The one we have is parked up. The engine has been changed twice, but still not functioning. we appeal that you consider us. Charity begins at home sir. We have seen how you are putting machineries in place to bring development to certain areas.

Hon. Kingsley Edafiadjebre & Comr. Raymond Emiko

“The working condition here is not very conducive. We want to say that the entire premises needs your attention. It needs a lot of renovation. The electricity situation is also poor.

“The transformer here is a 300kv transformer serving the secretariat and other premises around. It needs an upgrade or we get a separate transformer within this premises.”

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