Water ministry workers demand salary review, career progression

The Trade Group of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the River Basin Development Authorities under the National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees has called on the Federal Government to settle outstanding promotion arrears owed to workers from 2019 to date.

The union also demanded a review of the salary structure for River Basin Development Authorities personnel, improved career progression, regular promotion exercises and increased investment in staff capacity development.

The demands were presented on Thursday by the Chairman of the forum, Ambrose Igiebour, during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev.

Speaking during the meeting, Igiebour described the engagement as the beginning of a new chapter of collaboration between the ministry’s leadership and its workforce.

He said, “As employers and employees are inseparable in any productive ecosystem, we stand before you today representing thousands of dedicated, dutiful and productive workers whose immense daily efforts sustain rural and urban economic growth, food security and sustainable development as embedded in Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We come today not merely as stakeholders within the ministry and the River Basin Development Authorities, but as genuine partners in progress, committed to ensuring industrial stability, peace and systemic growth.”

The union pledged to maintain industrial harmony while urging the minister to prioritise workers’ welfare through enhanced capacity development and professional training.

It also called for a policy review that would allow qualified career officers in the River Basin Development Authorities to progress beyond the rank of director to executive positions, including Executive Director and Managing Director.

The workers further demanded an upward review of the salary structure for RBDA personnel and urged the ministry to ensure that promotion exercises are conducted within the first quarter of every year to prevent delays in salary adjustments.

“We appeal for the honourable minister’s urgent intervention in the settlement of outstanding promotion arrears for staff within both the ministry and the River Basin Development Authorities from 2019 to date,” Igiebour said.

The union also commended the minister for efforts to restore peace in the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority and appealed for an amicable resolution of the lingering industrial dispute.

In addition, it urged the minister to approve the reintegration of the Forum of Trade Unions of the ministry and the River Basin Development Authorities into the ministry’s policy formulation and programme implementation processes to strengthen collaboration and improve service delivery.

Responding, Utsev commended the union for its commitment to industrial peace and constructive engagement with the ministry.

The minister assured the workers that their requests would receive due consideration and promised to carefully examine the issues raised in the memorandum submitted by the union.

He also pledged to hold further discussions with union leaders on the lingering labour disputes within the River Basin Development Authorities and directed relevant ministry officials to engage stakeholders to find lasting solutions.

Utsev reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the trade unions and assured them that their contributions would be incorporated into its policies and programmes in line with the Federal Government’s objectives for the water resources sector.