NDDC Staff Say N1.32b COVID-19 Palliatives Payment Was To Ensure ‘Efficient Performance’ Of Employees

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Staff Union, under the Joint Collective Forum of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees (AUPCTRE) has justified the payment of N1.32bn to staff of NDDC as COVID-19 Palliative, saying it was meant to keep employees well- motivated.

The union said it was in line with the recommendations of both government and labour organizations across the world to cushion the effect of the pandemic.

It stressed that it was part of the commission’s economic stimulus plans and workplace welfare measures to keep the workforce well motivated.

The Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the commission had in July come under fire after it disclosed that it spent N1.32billion to take care of itself and staff at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic in April.

But the AUPCTRE in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the Senior Staff Union and the Junior Staff Union, Comrades Ronnson William and Comrade Sampson Agbone, the unions said the NDDC Act gave the board power to provide such palliatives when necessary for the efficient performance of the functions of the Commission.

They said: “The council on global unions representing more than 200 million workers worldwide, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), UN global union and it’s partners held a meeting on the 13th of March, 2020 to put in place an Urgent Economic Stimulus and workplace Measures required in the face of Covid-19 pandemic.

“The global bodies called for urgent action by governments and employers to promptly respond to the COVID-19 crisis. In addition to this, Section 8(f) of the NDDC Act gives the board power to provide such things necessary for the efficient performance of the functions of the Commission.”

The group also said The vibes being generated by the National Assembly probe of the NDDC do not show the true picture of the activities of the commission and have also done a great deal of damage to it’s image.

They said: “The situation of the NDDC with respect to allowances and benefits, is no different from what obtains in other peer organizations within the country and in other climes. On the issue of the ILO training, the Public Service Rule, Labour Law and the Board Approved Staff terms and conditions of service of the NDDC encourage training and re-training of workers. Given the nature of such International training, it is not surprising that payments were made in the hope that COVID-19 will not persist for too long. It is therefore most uncharitable to blackmail the Commission and the staff on account of duly approved allowances and wages”.

The group added that while it is against alleged malfeasance by both the IMC and staff of the commission, it will not support the undue harassment of staff by security agencies.

“We therefore crave the indulgence of the presidency to restrain the security agencies from constant harrassment of the staff of the commission and call on the EIMC to attend to all outstanding staff matters,” they said.