Joseph Odok|24 January 2016|12:57pm
The news of Ayade's treatment of his aides as a decoration for his entourage may not be understood until an ear is given to them. It is embarrassing that the aides to the governor have not been pay rolled up to today nor paid any salary. Worst still, their employment letters have not been given to any aide to the governor. Neither is their conditions of service determined nor defined.
For those yet to be informed, the aides to the governor and legislative aides perform no other function than being men on suit decorating the governor and legislators while dying of hunger. The are mere body guards or men on suit accompanying the governor to build his entourage.
Most of these aides have beneficiaries and responsibility but have no option than die in silence. Some of the aides felt working for the governor and legislators will better their lot but it is sad that up till date the governor is yet to look their way.
In Liyel Imoke days, the aides to the governor and legislative aides had a monthly salary ranging from 70,000; this is besides allowance. But the government of Ayade Benedict seems to be different. The aides with high expectations have not been given appointment letters nor have they been pay rolled.
The expectations of the aides was high during Yuletide when the governor promised to pay them arrears of salaries. But to their greatest dismay, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Orim gathered them after a long waiting and handed them with a token of 30,000 naira only. The unanswered questions is whether the money is for their December salary or is a token pending the payment of their arrears of salaries that have ran from May till date.
Narrating his ordeal, one of the aides expressed great disappointment and readiness to abandon his appointment. In his words, "I can't imagine the governor taking me as a mere apparel to decorate him as he drives in his convoy. This is worst than neocolonialism and the highest form of slavery"
The unanswered questions are: why will these young guys act so hungry? Why will they accept a life as if they have no option? Why will they prefer slavery, paying huge accommodation charges, transportation and spending to buy suit only to be treated as slaves or apparel?
The governor must stop insulting the youths and manipulating the poverty of the youths. The reality of unemployment should never give the governor the arrogance to treat humans as chattels. The governor must show himself a lover of the youths by giving his aides appointment letters and paying them the arrears of their salaries.
Paying a selective workers salaries on 15th of this month is not enough to define the governor as a workers' friendly governor. A stitch in time saves nine.
Joseph Odok
Social Media Change Agent & Friend of the oppressed
