Former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, has advised Nigerian workers to see this year’s May Day as a moment for sober reflection and stocktaking.
Atiku in a message of solidarity to the Nigerian workforce, extolled the virtues of hard work, perseverance, and endurance of the working people amid daunting challenges.
Similarly, an award – winning Nigerian realtor, Dr. Babatunde Adeyemo, has celebrated the Nigeria workers on this year’s edition of ‘World Workers’ Day, commending them for their commitment to nation – building just as he also described them as “intelligent and amazing.”
Dr. Adeyemo, who is the CEO of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, a foremost real estate firm behind Pelican Valley Estate, Pelican Brief Estate, Pelican’s Valley Ecostay Apartments and Pelican’s Greenish Acres Farm Estate – all in Laderin, Kobape axis of Ogun State in a message to the nation’s workers, acknowledged their hard-work and contribution to the Society.
He expressed the hope that their hard work would be rewarded with success, happiness and fulfillment.
“Happy Workers’ Day to all the hardworking individuals out there! Today we celebrate your dedication, passion, and contribution to society. You are the backbone of our economy and the driving force behind progress.
“Let’s take a moment to appreciate all that you do and enjoy this day dedicated to you. May your hard work be rewarded with success, happiness, and fulfillment.
“Cheers to you intelligent and amazing workers worldwide,” the Pelican Valley CEO stated on his official social media handle.
Still on the Vice President Atiku Abubakar on May Day message, the Waziri Adamawa hailed the workers for their perseverance given the myriad of socio-economic tribulations they have been contending with in the last eight years of the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress’ administration.
Atiku enjoined the workers not to despair or be cowed, but to keep their heads above water and stay afloat, be resilient and hopeful; for the sake of the younger generation and the country’s future.
The former Vice President reminded them to stand together, with him, to legally reclaim the mandate given to him at the February 25 presidential poll.
“In Nigeria of today, the minimum wage of N30,000 cannot buy a full bag of rice, let alone cloth or pay for a worker’s many utility bills. In fact, hyperinflation in all sectors of our nation has constituted serious socio-economic strangulation to the average Nigerian worker, who’s now poorer than 2015 when APC came to power.
“It is unimaginable how a government could be so heartless to treat its own bonafide citizens like medieval slaves in colonial plantations. Where are the so-called ‘dividends of democracy’?
“Labourers do deserve commensurate wages that meet pervading economic conditions of the time. Alas, Nigerian workers now receive wages that can no longer take them home or bring them back to the office!
“Hope is the breath that keeps people alive. Let’s work together in unity of voice and purpose to retrieve our electoral victory through the law courts. Let’s have faith that the judiciary would be fair and dispense unbiased justice.
“Long live Nigerian workers, long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. ‘Aluta continua, Victoria acerta’.”
We’ve paid N88. 92bn as pension, N13bn global deductions – Gov Abiodun
Meanwhile, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has disclosed that his administration has paid cumulative N88.92b as pension for the state and local government retirees till date, saying he won’t renege on his promise to the state workers.
Abiodun also disclosed that he has the state government under his watch has paid N13b out of the N19b Global Deductions owed to the public servants in the state, assuring that the outstanding of N6bn global deductions would be paid in the coming months
The governor disclosed this while addressing workers and members of trade unions at the celebration of the 2023 Workers’ Day held at the M.K. O Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.
Emphasizing on the theme of the event “Workers’ Rights and Social Economic Rights”, Abiodun noted that his administration understood workers’ plight and was working towards addressing them.
He said that his government has paid the sum of N4.1b as gratuities for both state and local government retirees, just as the quarterly release for pensioners had been increased from N500m to N1b.
He further disclosed that the minimum monthly pay for pensioners in the state had been increased from N5,000 to N10,000.
“The additional N700m wage bill initially affected our plan which was to settle all outstanding commitments with our work force. Let me reassure you that our administration will continue to explore various financial options rather than imposing additional taxes on the people.
“Amongst other initiatives, we have put in place an improved working environment for our Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Commencement of the year 2021 and 2022 promotion exercise of Civil Servants, provision of housing scheme for our workers: construction and allocation of Prince Court at Kemta Idi-Aba, Abeokuta and Kobape Estate, and newly constructed quarters for the Permanent Secretary at Laderin Estate”, the governor pointed out.
Parts of the welfare package for the workers, the governor added, include the review upward by 100 percent car and motorcycle refurbishing loans, appointment of new Permanent Secretaries; Accountant-General, Solicitor-General, Principals-General and Tutor-General for seamless administration.
The state helmsman, however, said his government was on the verge of implementing policies and programmes to enhance the health welfare package of the work force, while regular training and retraining to enhance productivity and improve service delivery in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, would be intensified.
The governor assured that his administration would not renege on its promises or any understanding reached with the workers, as they are also stakeholders in the “Building our Future Together” agenda.
While intimating the workers with the plans of his administration in the next four years, Abiodun said: “The second phase of our administration, we will ensure the completion of infrastructural projects encompassing transportation infrastructure, be it road, be it our airport, education infrastructure, be it renovation of public schools,health infrastructure, including the provision and construction of primary health care centers till we have at least one PHC per ward.
“We will focus on the provision of public utilities which would be the supply of portable water and uninterrupted power supply to our major towns and villages to make life more abundant for our people.
“We will be embarking on our energy transition implementation through our E-mobility scheme, a plan to convert all our motorcycles to electric powered and also our mass transit buses to being gas powered”.
In his remarks, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, represented by the Federal Controller of Labour, Mr.Itemoagbo Eshomounu, said workers as wealth creators have over the years, contributed to the socio-economic development of the country, emphasizing that the Federal Government has taken steps to address challenges facing workers in their places of work.
The Ogun State chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC)), Akeem Lasisi, lauded the state government for its efforts in addressing the workers’ plights, maintaining that the Workers Day celebration was dedicated to the workers for their hard work, dedication and resilience to the economic development of the State.
While urging the state government to put labour issues at the front burner, Lasisi also called on the Federal Government to address the current security and unemployment challenges, as well fuel subsidy issues, saying the union would continue to protect its members interest by engaging government constructively rather than embarking on unnecessary strikes.
On his part, Hameed Benco, the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), said the state government has performed creditably well in education, agriculture, health, housing and workers’ welfare, calling on the state government to implement the 40 percent increment to the state workers as done by the federal government.
Highlights of the celebration was the march past by various trade the workers and unions in the state.
