Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Workers in the country have been assured that their welfare and benefit packages would be given top priority by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
This assurance was given on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, at the maiden edition of Permanent Secretary Quarterly Forum with Joint Union leaders in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, noted that this was to ensure effective service delivery for desired developmental goals.
Mrs Walson-Jack explained that the forum was established to provide opportunity for direct interface with union leaders in federal government MDAs, on issues relating to welfare and well-being of civil servants, as well as on other related policies and programmes of government.
She said the theme of the forum, ‘Sustaining Industrial Harmony in the Public Sector: An imperative for achieving Federal Government’s Change Agenda for National Development,’ was timely and in line with the 2017-2020 Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan approved by the Federal Executive Council.
She also said welfare issues are at the heart of almost all industrial disputes hence the launch of a salary review for the Federal Civil Service as a first step to enhance the value proportion of civil servants under the FCSSIP.
She added that government was collaborating with relevant stakeholders to address all issues that may cause conflict between employer and employee before they escalate into conflicts.
Mrs Walson-Jack further said that efforts to prevent re-occurrence of industrial disputes and conflicts in MDAs and sustain industrial peace and harmony in public service birthed the Quarterly Forum, while the need to bridge the existing gaps in communication necessitated the need to cascade interaction with Executives of labour unions.
A presentation on ‘’Federal Government Group Life Assurance Policy for Public Servants’’ by Mr Akin Abaoba of Capital Express Insurance Company was also featured in the forum. The presentation was to sensitize participants on the objectives of the scheme and how to benefit from it.
