*Declares Farm Day in Akwa Ibom
By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has declared every 1st and 3rd Friday in a month as Farm Day in the state as part of his administration’s efforts to not just ensure availability of food, but also its sufficiency all round season in the state.
Gov Eno announced this on Wednesday in his address to mark this year’s workers day celebration in the state at Uyo Township Stadium, Uyo, venue for the year 2024 May Day celebration.
Governor Eno, who was the Special Guest of Honour, declared farming in the state compulsory for all including his cabinet members, warning that no burial ceremony would be allowed to hold in these two days declared as Farm Day in the state.
Recall the state government has recently Innuagurated a food intervention agency called “Akwa Ibom State Bulk Purchase Agency” saddles with the responsibility of buying food in bulk direct from farmers and producers in state and its environs and sell to end users at an affordable price as well as eliminate scarcity.
The State Governor while declaring the farm day in state, reminded the people of the state that the Bulk Purchase Agency was just an intervention agency for a short time term solution to a long term problem in the state.
“A long term solution will be for all us to go back to the farm, and ensure that we produce food. A people that cannot feed themselves cannot boast of anything. We must go back to the farm working with the State Ministry of Agriculture and the Agriculture Committee.
“To ensure that all of us, the workers in Akwa Ibom State will cultivate a farm, I therefore declare the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month a Farm Day in Akwa Ibom State. It will not be a day for burial. Nobody will attend burial on that day.
“All of us will go to farm starting from the Governor, Deputy Governor, State’s Lawmakers and chairmen of local government areas. I will visit your local government area to inspect the farm every month”. The Governor stated.
Governor Eno also announced the release of additional two billion Naira for payment of gratuities to retired workers across board for the month of April, 2024 and implored the organised labour unions in the state to strictly monitor the payment of money and report to him, where they observe unauthorized practice.
The release according to him, brought to a total of 16.1 billion Naira so far released by his administration for payment of 11 years backlog of gratuities and pensions owed retirement civil servants in the state.
Reflecting on the theme of this year’s May Day celebration “People First” Governor Eno reiterated his administration commitment to put the people of the state first because according to him, “there will be no governance without the people”.
He also pledged that the welfare of workers in the state would continue to recieve priority attention, just as he discribed workers as resourceful and articulate partners for the growth and development of the state.
Yielding to the plights of the casual workers in the state, the State Chief Executive directed the compilation of all casual workers for possible offering them full employment.
He commended the labour leaders in the state for thier show of love, solidarity and understand with government in resolving any labour issue in the state, and donated a brand new Hilux vehicle each to NLC and TUC.
Earlier the state chairpersons of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Sunny James and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Dominic Abang have in thier various goodwill messages, lauded Governor Umo Eno for his magnanimity towards the welfare of workers in the state.
They said the labour unions in the state have not had it so good before compared to governor Eno administration, adding the entire workers in the state are grateful with him, noting the various backlog demands of workers such as release and prompt payment of promotion arrears, prompt payment of salaries, gratuities and pensions among other incentives as evidence that he cares about workers welfare in the state.
Highlights of the celebration include March Pass by members of the he organised labour/Taking of salute by the Governor assisted by the NLC and Tuc chairmen
The State Council of Nigeria Union of journalists, (NUJ) emerged first position in March Pass, followed by National Association of Nurses and Midwife while Radio, Television and Theatre workers Union came third.
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