Eko Hot Blog reports that state Governors have lauded the resilience of workers and pledged to prioritize their welfare, promising improved working conditions and a well-deserved pay rise.
The Governors spoke at May Day rallies held in their respective states on Wednesday.
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Demanding for a better welfare package for workers, Labour leaders and other stakeholders urged the government and other employers to prioritize workers’ welfare and address their numerous challenges.
In Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, assured workers in the State that his administration would implement a new minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
According to Vanguard, the Governor committed in response to the demands of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congres, TUC, during the Workers’ Day celebration held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
While speaking on the current fuel scarcity, the Governor advised Lagos residents against panic buying and storage of petrol, saying the Federal Government and the major stakeholders in the oil sector were working round the clock to address the problem.
He said he has received assurances from the authorities that there is enough fuel at tank stations, and the distribution of the product will be intensified to ease the current fuel scarcity across the country.
Sanwo-Olu promised to look at some of the demands of various unions in the state, saying that his administration would continue to ensure good welfare packages for all the workers in the state.
Speaking on his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, Sanwo-Olu said: “As we look towards the future, I want to reaffirm our commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable society in which the interests of workers receive the attention it deserves.
“We will continue to invest in education, training, and skills development to equip our workforce with the tools they need to succeed in their places of work because we recognize the vital role that workers play in driving progress and prosperity in our society. And we pledge to build a future where every worker is respected, empowered and able to live with dignity and pride.”
On his part, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State announced a new minimum wage of N40,000 for the state workers, saying that the new wage implementation aligns with the realities of the time in the state rather than sentiments.
“Owing to the peculiarity of Cross River State regarding its lean finances occasioned by low Statutory Federal Allocation and aggravated by the unfavourable State GDP to Debt servicing ratio, the new wage implementation is in line with the realities of the time rather than sentiments,” he said at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar, where he joined the Workers Day celebration.
Governor Otu disclosed that under his administration, payment of salaries and pension entitlement remains a first-line charge.
On the backlog of gratuity in the state, which dates back to 2014, the Governor appealed for patience, saying: “Government is presently on the verge of concluding necessary arrangements for the staggered payment of outstanding gratuity to its retired workers.”
In Abia, Governor Alex Otti, assured Abia workers that his administration would not only implement but backdate and pay arrears of the new minimum wage once the committee set up by the Federal Government decided on it.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State
While addressing workers on Wednesday during Workers’ Day celebration at the Township Stadium Umuahia, Otti said his administration would continue to prioritize the welfare of workers in the state.
“We are still studying the announcement by the Federal Government on this and take the lead in its implementation. We shall not only implement but backdate and pay the arrears once it’s agreed upon”, Otti assured.
Gov. Otti, who described workers as agents of development and transformation, thanked Abia workers for their sacrifices as his “Government strives to rebuild the state from the ruins of the past.”
Otti said that his recent decision to defray the backlog of pension arrears owed retirees by his predecessors was a demonstration of his regard for workers, and declared that never again would the welfare of Abia workers be an afterthought.”
In Bayelsa State, Governor Douye Diri has set up a five-man committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Professor Nimibofa Ayawei to look into the possibility of domiciling the Federal Government minimum wage in the state.
Governor Diri disclosed this while addressing workers in his May Day Speech at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, the state capital.
The Governor said Bayelsa State workers have been receiving salaries and wages that are at par with workers in the federal civil service.
In Kaduna, Governor Uba Sani flagged off the implementation of N500 million revolving loans for civil servants to mark the 2024 May Day Celebration in the state.
Speaking to the workers at Murtala Mohammed Square, the Governor symbolically presented dummy loan cheques to some of the workers, saying economic empowerment initiatives will soon be unfolded for workers in the State.
He told the labour unions that Kaduna state Government under his leadership would continue to prioritize workers’ welfare and equip them appropriately within available resources because “a committed and motivated workforce is critical to the achievement of our administration’s Rural
Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said his administration would continue to promote industrial peace and operate open and transparent governance, adding that he would make the welfare of workers a major priority of his administration.
Speaking at the Worker’s Day celebration in Akure, the state capital, the governor said in “demonstration of our commitment to the welfare of workers in the State, our administration is giving priority attention to the regular payment of salaries and pensions, steady payment of gratuity and payment of backlog of salaries, regular promotion of workers with financial backing is being prioritized. The promotion exercise for the current year is ongoing.”
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State
Stating that he is fully implementing the workers’ Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, ORANGHIS, he said: “Our administration is also considering the inclusion of pensioners in the Scheme; Monthly commitment of N200million for steady payment of inherited arrears of gratuities in addition to the special provision of over N1.2billion to clear arrears of gratuities up to 2014.”
Aiyedatiwa at the event, announced the appointment of a former President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Bola Taiwo, as his Special Adviser on Union Matters.
In Kebbi State, Governor Nasir Idris, pledged to recruit 2000 teachers in line with his drive to boost education in the state.
He made the pledge at the Haliru Abdu Stadium in Birnin Kebbi while marking the 2024 Workers Day.
As part of his efforts to improve and uphold the dignity of civil servants, he said his administration has abolished casual work by converting over 3000 casual workers across the state into permanent and pensionable staff.
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On the new minimum wage, the governor said a committee comprising the organised labour and the head of service will work out a sustainable minimum wage for Kebbi workers.
Earlier, Kebbi State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Murtala Usman thanked the governor for paying leave grants and gratuities to retired civil servants.
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