Ethnic Nationality to AUPCTRE : "Stop blackmailing DESOPADEC through your reports"

The  Ethnic Nationality of  DESOPADEC, made up of Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko, Ndokwa and Ika  have warned Delta State Chapter of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) which is Chaired in the state by Mr Lawrence Otueroro and his group to stop blackmailing DESOPADEC  that, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has fulfilled and continues to fulfill  his promises made to the agency.

In  a chat with newsmen on  Monday, the Presidents of the Ethnic Nationality who are:  Mr. Akatakpo Gbesimi(Itsekiri), Olorogun Felix Ogboru(Urbobo), Engineer Felix Oyazimo(Ijaw), Nzesi Boniface Osssi( Ndokwa), Mr. Peter Ejemite(Isoko) and Mr Isioma Brown(Ika) said the Chairman of AUPCTRE, Mr Otueroro and his  people are much aware that the present Board of DESOPADEC has started payment of new minimum wage for staff of the commission since November 2024 and October arrears also paid together with that of  November's  salary. 

They said, Mr Otueroro is an  interloper and  seeks  relevance hence he  said,  Governor Sheriff Oborevwori should prevail on Board of DESOPADEC to  pay outstanding 30%  of salary of staff saying   that, the issues raised by AUPCTRE have been addressed by DESOPADEC led by Olorogun John Nani as Chairman and Chief Festus Ochonogor as Managing Director and therefore asked him  to verify facts before going to the press.

"We, ethnic Presidents of DESOPADEC through interface with the Board, we raised the need for the implementation of new minimum wage as approved by the Governor and the Board gladly noted it and has since started payment. People should go and do their findings if staff have not started receiving the new minimum wage" they said.

 According to the Presidents of the Ethnic Nationality, the present Board of DESOPADEC is worker friendly adding that,  that the Board has given promotion to workers with  six months arrears.
They said, the Staff of DESOPADEC  are glad  as  they received leave allowances at the beginning of January, 2025 through the  effective implementation of the reviewed implementation of conditions of service.

On the  payment  of end of year bonus as promised by Governor Oborevwori, the Presidents asserted that the Board is awaiting the Governor's approval as they can't do without his approval. According to them, that it is amusing that Mr Lawrence Otueroro who is not a staff of the Commission is accusing the Board of not caring about the welfare of Staff which is a contradiction to the reality on ground.

The six Presidents of Ethnic Nationality said,  the Board has improved the working conditions of the Staff saying, the Board  has  upgraded the sick bay facility  in the Commission  where  health needs of the workers are taken care of and the Health Insurance Scheme (HIS) wherein a father, mother and  four kids would be attended to.

According to the body, consultations are  on  between ethnic Presidents and  the Board which its  approval is  being  awaited shortly. The Presidents of Ethnic Nationality said this  Board attended promptly to the needs of staff diagnosed with terminal diseases/ illness with huge financial support.

The Presidents said that the Board of DESOPADEC deserved commendation for always listening to the requests of the staff and implementing agreed issues, though in phases. According to them,it is noteworthy to note  that this Board has reinstated staff who were unduly laid off and their arrears paid just as they said, staff, due for upgrade have  been attended to  as  vilification is  ongoing.

They noted: "The same Board that Mr Otueroro is vilifying has agreed to the requests of the Ethnic Presidents for appointments of your Deputy Heads of Departments and Divisional Heads before the end of first quarter of 2025.

The Presidents of the Ethnic Nationality in DESOPADEC said AUPCTRE is just on a cheap blackmail mission against the Board and therefore warned  AUPCTRE to steer clear of the activities of the Commission adding that, Mr Otueroro can not unionize the  agency through the backdoor. According to them, Olorogun Nani led Board is gradually implementing all the campaign promises of Governor Oborevwori to Staff of DESOPADEC, hence all disruptive elements such as AUPCTRE should be put aside.