The Managing Director of Edo City Transport Services, Barr. Festus Ehiemua has reaffirmed his commitment to transform the state owned transport company .
Barr. Ehiemua stated this while playing host to the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress, Edo State Chapter in his office in Benin City.
He revealed that he has always been a privileged staff that grew from level 7 to level 14 in Ambrose Alli University (AAU) without stress until his appointment, as such do not see any reason why those under him should go through unnecessary delays before they are promoted.
Speaking further, He said that his background in the University environment has helped him to understand the importance of employee motivation because when staffs are motivated through promotion and prompt payment of salaries, they tend to give in their best to boost productivity.
“Staff need to be happy to increase productivity in an organization, because when they are not happy, you find it difficult to manage them. Before I came in here, some workers were already thinking of resigning but I came and brought life back to the transport company.”
“The working system here was already down with so many of the workers thinking of finding something else to do. So, when I was appointed, I ensured that the buses were resuscitated, despite the cost of maintaining them, we worked very hard to put them back on the road.So, we are trying our best awaiting Governor Okpebholo to approved new busses, remember, these buses you are seeing were purchased by Adams Oshoimohole, so we can not say because there are no new busses, the transport company should not exist, So we are going to do our best to make sure the busses are on the road even when we are faced with maintenance challenges “.
Speaking further, he appreciated Gov. Okpebholo’ for giving him the opportunity to serve Edo People and promised to continue to do his best to ensure that the transport company becomes the best in the state.
Speaking earlier, the Edo State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Bernard Joman who applauded Governor Okpebholo’s achievement said the governor has disappointed those who were undermining his capacity by employing over 2,800 Edo people into civil service while he also increased the subvention of AAU from 44million to 500million.
He went further to say that they are on a thank you visit to the management of ECTS for transforming the government owned transport company through restructuring of the working system, converting casual watches to full scale workers and promoting workers who are due for promotion since 2004.
He said Barr. Ehiemua managerial skill have reposition the company and attracting people to fraternise with the transport company.
According to him , there is significant changes in the buses that are plying different routes as it is difficult to see ECTS busses parked outside their stations looking for who to toll it.
He however enjoined Barr. Ehiemua to sustain his achievement and place Edo City Transport Services as the best government owned transport company in Nigeria.
