The new executive of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees (AUPCTRE), Rivers State chapter, under the leadership of Comrade Henry Urombo, has commended the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, on his recent approval of N500m to settle the state owed TIMA-RIV staff.
Comrade Urombo in a chat with The Newswriter, said that the commendation was necessary, since TIMA-RIV is an integral part of AUPCTRE, assuring them that with the ongoing verification exercise which he has witnessed, that they will soon receive their salaries.
On the election that brought him to the helm of affairs in AUPCTRE, Urombo, described its challenges as that of every other election, pointing out that God being on their side, that they were able to overcome those challenges.
In terms of fresh ideas to move the union to the next level, AUPCTRE boss, opined that they inherited some liabilities on assumption of office, adding that they are working to see how to overcome some of those liabilities, since government is a continues process, according to him.
Urombo affirmed that the new administration of AUPCTRE, has in less than one month of its assumption of office, floated a co-operative society for union members, which will address the immediate need of members, to better their lots in accessing loans for agricultural purposes, since Civil Servants are not allowed to do business.
He added that arrangements are ongoing for their members who may wish to embark on fish farming and Cassava production, among others to be properly trained, so as to have something to fall back to as they retire and to boost the financial income of those that are still in service.
Responding to the charge handed down to the state labour leaders to take their destiny in their hands, through protest against what the state governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi termed injustices in the state, Comrade Urombo was of the view that the era of protesting for everything by labour has gone.
He maintained emphatically that dialogue will remain the best panacea in resolving whatever differences that any labour union may have with government or other organisations, as regards the welfare of workers.
Urombo, stressed that the series of lectures and trainings that they have had as labour leaders, have made them to understand that it is better to dialogue than to first go for protest and at the end of the day, come back to dialogue again.
The labour leader, noted that the volatile nature of the country now, does not call for unnecessary protest, in order not to create an opportunity for miscreants to cause unwanted distractions in the polity and the need for them to be careful in their dealings, admitting that there are areas they need to do more, adding that the new crop of leaders in the labour movement, are doing everything possible to address any gray area in the system.
The state AUPCTRE boss in the meantime, enjoined members to report to work early and do their job diligently and stressed on the need to give proper orientation to Nigerians as regards the issue of insecurity in the nation, pointing out that the Almighty God has answered the prayer of Nigerians as a nation.
Comrade Urombo was optimistic that very soon the problem of insecurity will be over.
