By Sandra Ijeoma Okoye
When in the month of May 2022, the Organized Labor in Cross River state comprising NLC, TUC disclosed that Civil Servants in the state were “very hungry, and on a tight rope”, the comrades might have erroneously thought that nobody heard their cry. In fact, the month under reference in this context, and was invariably the month dedicated to workers across the globe to freely express their views on how they are been treated by employers of labor as well as make demands from their employers in both the public and private sectors, and also to some extent the month dedicated to employers to assure workers on what they have in stock for them, the labor leaders urged Governor Ben Ayade to remember his “food on the table” mantra and fulfill the agreements they have so far signed to make life easy for workers across the state.
Ostensibly hearkening to the workers’ voice a few weeks later in Calabar at the flag-off ceremony of the first phase of the 2022 improved cocoa seedlings farming in the state, Ayade told Civil Servants in the state that relying solely on their salaries is no longer fashionable because it is hardly enough.
Represented by Dr. Oscar Ofuka, Special Adviser to the Governor on Cocoa Development and Control, Ayade urged workers to go into farming, especially cocoa farming as he told them that if Cote d’Ivoire with a smaller landmass could become a leading cocoa producer, Nigeria can do better.
He said, “If Cross River decides to Channel all its energy in cocoa cultivation, it would surpass the stride made by Cote d’Ivoire in cocoa production.
“We have created an enabling environment for the people of the state to create wealth through agriculture.
“I advise workers in the state to fully go into cocoa production so as to better their lots after retirement, as cocoa is one of the crops that can grow even on rocks.
“With the kind of fertile rainforest that Cross River is endowed with, people can go into cocoa production to turn around their fortunes rather than depend on their salaries that may not be sustainable,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr. Timothy Akwaji, Cross River Head of Service (HOS), stated that with agriculture, a lot that could hardly be achieved while in service could still be achieved.
Akwaji maintained that agriculture is one of the professions that the civil service rule does not forbid when in service, stressing that even as a civil servant, he owned a palm farm that generated income into his family coffers.
“As civil servants in the state, do not only rely solely on your salaries but go into cocoa cultivation and other agribusinesses that can bring about value addition to the economy of your families,” he said.
Paradoxically, the same governor that insinuatingly told the workers that the State does not have enough money in its treasury to pay their salaries, in the month of August, sometime last week, seemingly being pushed by his inflated ego, ran to St. Patrick’s Catholic, Ikot Ansa, Calabar to donate N25 million to the church at her Thanksgiving Service, and somewhat disappointedly had his inflated ego punctured by the Bishop of the Diocese, John Ebebe Ayah, who turned down the donation by advising him to raise additional money and add it to the N25 million donated to the church to pay civil servants salaries in the state.
He said, “I want to talk. The governor is my brother, we are both from Cross River North. I want to appreciate the governor and tell him to package whatever he has for me, add to it, and use it to pay the salaries of the workers”.
It will be recalled that since the video that captured the uncommon event went viral that not a few Nigerians have since the incident occurred been thumbing up for the bishop, particularly at this time when some bishops come across as not being called by God are naming their prices for politicians. Particularly of note in his commendation is a Nigerian Catholic priest serving in Malawi, Fr Kelvin Ugwu who lauded the Catholic Bishop of Uyo Diocese, John Ebebe Ayah, for turning down the N25 million donation from the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade.
Reacting, Ugwu in a post on his verified Facebook page, lamented how the governor was “proudly donating 25 million nairas to the church” when workers are being owed salaries for several months.
He wrote, “The sad part is that some members in the church who were initially clapping for him because of his donation may be among those that have not been paid.
“Thank God for the quick intervention of the Bishop of Uyo diocese, Bishop John Ayah. It is time we start getting our priorities right.
“Even the Bible says in Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
In my commendation to the Bishop in this context, it is expedient to say that he has set a worthy example for other ecclesiastics in Christendom to emulate. While thumbing up for the Bishop, it may not be erroneous to say he truly called, and a man of God without blemish. “N25m?” Not a few men of God will fall flat for the tempting donation, after all those who claimed to be in the same “industry” as he had been busy endorsing political events and issues.
