The National Youth Council of Ogoni People on Friday in Abuja, demanded the payment of an agreed 20 per cent pay rise for trainees under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project.
The Council in a statement signed by Kpaede Felix, the Special Adviser to the NYCOP president, Nwibani Raymond said it was demanding the pay rise due to the economic downturn in the country.
HYPREP, an agency of the Federal Government domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Environment was created to remediate soil and groundwater contamination in Ogoniland and impacted communities, promoting local capacity building and environmental awareness.
Speaking in the statement, NYCOP said, “You’ll recall that HYPREP’s core mandate is fixated on attaining to economic, social and environmental challenges plaguing communities damaged by hydrocarbon pollution. Part of its mandate cut across the transformation of lives, to rejuvenate lost hope and to improve the environment through her laid down plans.
“The positive attitude of the Project Coordinator, Prof. Nanibarini Zabbey, makes this difficult project so much more manageable and far-reaching, his enthusiasm and commitment in achieving his goals are topnotch which is seen been manifested in a series of completed projects geared to alleviating the people’s plight and placing them to a purposeful driven venture.
“We make bold to say that Ogoni youths are happy with the level of work done so far after a critical and thorough assessment of your performances. The over 5000 Ogoni youths trained and the livelihood program stands as a testament to that regard, it’s worthy of note to see how you’ve prioritized the active involvement of our youths which is seen as the strength of any society that wants to survive and grow in all facets.
“Following your antecedence right from your days in the classroom, we earnestly appeal that the 20% pay rise already agreed upon be paid to them following the economic downturn which has given rise to price hikes in our daily household commodities, also the starter packs be given to them. We know more glory days await Ogoni youths.”
The agency also noted that it seeks to ensure sustainable livelihoods and development while fostering security and peace-building efforts.
The agency has over the years recruited graduate trainees in other to achieve its objectives.