Are there still casual workers in any agency in Delta state? Head of Service makes important statement
By Aruoriwo Ivovi
Delta State Head of Service, HoS, Mr Reginald Bayoko has dispelled allegation of casualization of workers saying casualization of workers has since been abolished in the state.
The HoS made this known when the state chairman and other executive members of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday at Asaba.
Bayoko was responding to a request by the medical practitioners for the absorption of casual medical doctors, allegedly working with the State Hospital Management Board (HMB).
He debunked the casualization claim and explained that the medical doctors the group was referring to as casual workers were actually volunteers who willingly rendered their services to the state and humanity.
While acknowledging the services of the volunteers for their contributions to the state, the head of service disclosed that the state government had reciprocated the gesture by giving some of the volunteers’ permanent appointments.
He stated that the gesture was part of efforts to appreciate them and boost the manpower needs of state government hospitals.
Responding to other issues affecting the welfare of the association’s members the HoS promised to personally take up some of the issues even as he clarifiedthat the rationale for the embargo in the payment of promotion arrears to workers.
Bayoko, while describing healthcare workers as very important to society, congratulated the executives of the association on its election into office by members to pilot the affairs of the body.
He reminded the association to sensitize their members on the need to always fill and submit their annual performance evaluation report (APER) as requirements for consideration for promotion.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Association, Dr. Samuel Oyawiri, said that the visit was to introduce the new executives of the association to HoS and also to appreciate the role he played in the appointment of three of their members as permanent secretaries in the state civil service.
Dr Oyawiri who intimated the HoS on their willingness to partner with his office on ways to improve healthcare delivery in the state, however, solicited for support in solving some welfare related challenges faced by members.
Other issues raised by Oyawiri, included transfer of medical doctors from one station to another without financial benefits, non-payment of teaching and rural allowances, delay in implementation of promotion and payments of first salaries of some of their colleagues who were recently employed into the Hospital Management Board.
