* PDP urges FG, states to prioritise labour welfare
* APC urges workers to continue to support Buhari’s government
* Workers are nation’s lifeblood — Saraki
* Dickson hails Bayelsa workers, promises improved welfare
By Teddy Nwanunobi
Abuja (Sundiata Post) — As Nigerian workers join the rest of the world to celebrate the 2017 Workers’ Day, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Nwabueze Ngige, has praised the resilience of the Nigerian workers, despite the biting economic challenges.
In a message to fraternised with the Nigerian workers, Ngige also hoped for a better future in the face of the current economic challenges that are facing the country.
“The Federal Government is not unaware of the economic challenges facing Nigerian workers in the public, the private and informal sector of the economy. We appreciate your resilience and hope for better days ahead,” he said.
While acknowledging the contributions of the Nigerian workers to national development, Ngige emphasised the commitment of the present administration to the enhancement of workers welfare.
“May I use this occasion to appreciate Nigerian workers for their contributions to national development, unequivocal solidarity to the change agenda and the fight against corruption of the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Mr. President is committed to the enhancement of workers’ welfare, through programmes like the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Scheme (FISH), creation of enabling environment to stimulate the economy with the aim of improving the social-economic wellbeing of Nigeria in all sectors of the economy,” he added.
He also used the opportunity to solicit for continued support of the Nigerian workers to the change agenda, especially in the fight against corruption.
“As we celebrate today, I urge Nigerian workers not to relent in their support to the Change Agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari,” Ngige concluded.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Ahmed Makarfi’s National Caretaker Committee (NCC), has urged the federal and state governments to prioritise Nigeria’s labour welfare.
In a message, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, PDP – NCC, Dayo Adeyeye, recalled with sadness that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to fulfill several incentives it promised the Nigerian workers before the last increment on prizes of petroleum products.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Ahmed Makarfi’s National Caretaker Committee (NCC), on behalf of all the organs, members and supporters of the Party, heartily felicitates with Nigeria labour force on the occasion of 2017 Workers Day celebration.
“The 1st Day of May every year is set aside by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to celebrate the untiring sacrifice of workers in Nigeria. This day is also celebrated as workers’ day in many countries around the world.
“We congratulate Nigeria Workers in both the private and public sectors for their contribution to nation building. It is remarkable that the efforts and services of our workers are traceable to the successes recorded so far in our national life.
“However, we want to use this special occasion to call on workers in Nigeria especially, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), to work in unity as a means of forestalling the continuous manipulation of the All Progressive Congress (APC) led federal and state governments. The division among workers in the Country is unnecessary and we believe the Ruling Government is responsible for the division amongst them.
“Nigerians will recall that this APC government promised several incentives to workers before the last increment on prizes of petroleum products, especially the premium motor spirit (PMS) known as ‘petrol’. It is sad that those promises; like other promises of this administration, (are) yet to be fulfilled.
“To this end, we call on the federal and states governments across the country to prioritise with despatch, the welfare of workers at all levels. A situation where some states cannot pay salaries of its workers is unacceptable and we urge the Federal Government to also consider other palliatives or incentives to reduce the suffering of Nigeria workers.
“God bless the PDP! God bless Nigeria workforce!! God bless Nigeria!!!” it said.
On its own, the APC has urged workers to continue to support the Buhari’s government.
The APC, in a message signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, added that the tripartite collaborative effort between trade/labour unions, private sector players and government is needed to keep the nation going.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) celebrates with Nigerian workers in the formal and informal sectors on the occasion of the 2017 workers’ day celebration.
“The Party thanks Nigerian workers for their strong support in the ongoing task to build a new Nigeria and bring about the change much desired by the citizenry.
“Without doubts, the economic recession has had a telling effect on the livelihoods of many working families and businesses in the country. We are however happy to note that the country’s economy is gradually coming out of recession and the APC assures Nigerians that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will continue to work hard to improve the livelihood of every citizen.
“The task of improving workers welfare; creating a conducive business environment to attract investments and grow existing businesses; and creating jobs is a tripartite collaborative effort between trade/labour unions, private sector players and government.
“The APC government has aggressively formulated and implemented policies that support businesses to grow so that we have truly rewarding jobs for all. The administration is also committed to improving the living condition of all citizens.
“Faced with crisis of inability to pay salaries by most states of the country, we recall that Federal Government twice had bailed out the states to ensure that workers do not suffer unduly. The Federal Government has so far committed huge resources for the execution of affordable houses for the civil servants under the Federal Integrated Staff Housing programme, which was launched in 2016.
“The Party, therefore, calls on Nigerian workers to continue to support government’s effort to better the lives of the citizenry and return the country to its deserved heights,” APC said.
As workers in Bayelsa State join their counterparts around the world to celebrate the 2017 International Workers Day, often referred to as May Day, Governor Seriake Dickson has restated his administration’s desire to improve on their welfare.
This, he said, is key in order to encourage them to be more productive and offer their best to the government and the state in general.
Dickson, in statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, also said that his government has put in place measures to strengthen the state civil service and further boost the capacity of its workforce.
He enjoined the workers to accept the challenges they had to face in the verification exercise embarked by the restoration administration which is aimed at sanitising the system and fish out those, who for long has derailed the ideals of the civil service and retarded its growth.
Dickson, who used the opportunity to remind the workers of the importance of discipline in the service, equally assured them of prompt payment of salaries within the availability of the state government resources.
“Discipline is key in every organization and the civil service is not an exemption. If we must make government institutions stronger and more effective then our workers must imbibe good attitude to work to enhance service delivery.
Nigerian workers in an outing, recently
“The quality of work based on the input is important. We want to leave behind an efficient and highly organized service with all the right things in place. That is why we are doing all we can to motivate our workers and bring them at par with their contemporaries elsewhere,” he said.
While congratulating and wishing the workers a happy celebration of their day, which he said is very significant, the governor charged them to continue to support the numerous and inspiring policies of his government to move the state forward.
According to him, since inception his government has focused on sectoral reforms to change the face of the state and noted that proudly the huge investment in education, health, infrastructure, etc has really paid off, thus setting the future of generations very bright.
Dickson, therefore, appealed to the workers not to allow themselves to be deceived by those who don’t mean well for the state and thanked the organized labour for their partnership, solidarity and support especially on the recently passed Education Trust Fund law.
In Lagos State, Governor Abiola Ajimobi has promised to spare no effort in ensuring that the state clears the four-month salary arrears of workers in the State.
Ajimobi, who stated this on Sunday in a congratulatory message to workers on the occasion of May Day 2017 by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Yomi Layinka, urged the workers to continue to put in their very best and key into the state government’s reform agenda aimed at enhancing productivity and ultimately the internally generated revenue (IGI).
“I congratulate the entire workforce in Oyo State including those in the private and informal sectors. This year’s Day has provided another opportunity for you all to take stock and assess your performance.
“I can say without any equivocation that workers in Oyo State are among the very best you can find anywhere in the country. But, for the few yet to embrace the new order of hard work, accountability, dedication and commitment I urge you join the train.
“On our part as government we are exploring many opportunities to enhance the internally generated revenue of the state. We will spare no effort to ensure that we clear the four-month salary arrears. I urge you to play your part dutifully to achieve this.
“No doubt, times are hard because of the pervading poor state of the economy. I feel your pains and I’m optimistic that we shall soon sing a new song of prosperity and abundance. May none of you be missing by that time,” he said.
Ajimobi prayed for a hazard-free 2017 for the workers in the state as the year enters the second quarter, while he also prayed for good health for the workers to celebrate more workers’ days to come.
In his message to the Nigerian workers, the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has described the Nigerian workers as the life-‘blood and driving force of the nation’s development in view of their invaluable contributions.
Saraki, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, to mark the 2017 Workers’ Day celebration, lauded the resilience and commitment of workers in both the formal and informal sector, describing their contribution to the nation and the economy as priceless.
“From the SMEs that contribute over 47 percent to our GDP, to the civil servants who are the driving force behind our government, all the way to the unregistered business owners who work to make a living for themselves and their families, every Nigerian worker in both the formal and informal sectors makes a priceless contribution to the sustainability of our nation.
“As we mark this year’s Workers’ Day, all Nigerian workers should be proud that their significant contributions keep this nation moving forward — as they are the lifeblood of our country, an integral part of the fabric that makes up our society,” the Senate President said.
Saraki also stated that the Senate will continue to work to establish and enhance all legislation that will guarantee the safety and well-being of Nigerian workers.
He further emphasised on the need for governments across all levels and participants in the private sector to work towards ensuring that our workers receive their salaries and pensions as at when due, while necessary periodic training should be availed them to make workers competitive in a changing world.
“As a result of globalisation, the Nigerian workforce is no longer competing with itself, we are now competing with our counterparts from both developing and developed nations.
“With this in mind, it is necessary that all employers — those in the public and private sectors — work to continuously invest in the development of their employees.
“On our part, the Nigerian Senate will continue to partner with Nigerian workers to enact legislation that will guarantee that they get their dues at the appropriate time, that their safety and well-being in the workplace are reassured. All these are necessary because when our workers are well taken care of, our businesses thrive, our economy grows, and our nation continues to succeed,” he stated.
Sundiata Post reports that “Workers’ Day” is a day that has its origin in the historical struggles of workers and trade unions in their efforts to win fair employment standards and more importantly, establish a culture of human and workers’ rights.
