By Emem Idio
….Protesters are above retirement age —State govt
YENAGOA—WOMEN yesterday took to the streets of the university community of Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, to protest their alleged removal from the payroll of the state-owned Niger Delta University, NDU.

The women, who blocked the road leading to the university in the area, demanded that their names be returned to the payroll, stressing that the protest would continue for seven days.
It was gathered that the aggrieved women obstructed traffic as they laid on the road and refused to give way for vehicular movement.

The women, who carried fresh palm fronds and placards, also blocked the entrance to the university, which was temporarily closed following students’ protest.

It was gathered that the women are casualties of the ongoing cleansing in the public service initiated by the state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

Reacting to the protest, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said “The protest is sponsored by the enemies of the state. Instead of explaining to the women that they had exceeded the age of retirement and should leave the system as required by the law, these enemies made it look as if the government was set to punish the women.”

“But we are engaging them and we know that very soon the women will come to realise that there is age limitation in the civil service. They will soon know that at a certain age, a civil servant is expected to leave the system to create spaces for fresh graduates.

The angry protesters include cleaners and gardeners locked all offices claiming that the government had blocked their source of livelihood.
Reacting to the protest, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said “The protest is being supported and sponsored by the enemies of the state. Instead of explaining to the women that they had gone beyond the age of retirement and should leave the system as required by the law, these enemies made it look as if the government was set to punish the women.

“But we are engaging them and we know that very soon the women will come to realise that there is age limitation in the civil service. They will soon know that at a certain age, a civil servant is expected to leave the system to create spaces for fresh graduates.

“These graduates are the sons and daughters of these women. They roam the streets without jobs because the system has been weighed down by illegalities.

“But the governor has decided to do the right thing. He has done what others could not do by ensuring a vibrant, productive and efficient public sector. The governor needs commendation. He needs to be encouraged to complete the reform because at the end these protesters will be the ultimate beneficiaries.”