May Day: Governors Assure Better Working Conditions, Pay Rise For Workers

GOVERNORS, yesterday, commended workers on their resilience and promised to prioritise their welfare and ensure better working conditions including a pay rise.

They spoke at May Day rallies held across the nation

The governors spoke as the Labour leaders, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and other stakeholders urged the government and other employers to prioritize workers’ welfare and address their numerous challenges.

I Will Pay New Minimum Wage To Lagos Workers-Sanwo-Olu

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.

Sanwo-Olu 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.

The Governor, while speaking on the current fuel scarcity, 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.

He praised all the committed, dedicated, resilient, and passionate workers in Lagos State for their contributions across all sectors in building and shaping the state, even in the face of challenges, saying “this year’s theme, ‘People First,’ resonates deeply with our administration’s philosophy, which is underpinned by our firm belief in prioritizing the welfare of our people.”

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.”

In their respective speeches, the Chairperson of NLC, Lagos State Council, Comrade Agnes Funmi Sessi and her TUC counterpart, Comrade Gbenga Ekundayo, praised Governor Sanwo-Olu for making workers’ welfare a priority of his administration.

They urged Governor Sanwo-Olu to implement the agreed minimum wage, expected to be announced by the Federal Government.

l’ll Make Workers Welfare Priority, Promote Industrial Peace- Aiyedatiwa

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.”

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.

Gov Alia Promises Continuous Prioritisation Of Workers’ Welfare

Speaking in like manner, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, in a message by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, commended Benue workers’ immense contributions to the overall development of the state.

The Governor said his administration was already working in line with the theme of the 2024 Labour Day, “Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate.”

He stressed that he was on the same page with the workers “having renovated the State Secretariat and also provided a dedicated 33KVA transformer to enable the workers have a healthy and conducive environment to operate.”

Uba launches N500m revolving loan scheme for Kaduna workers
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 Transformation Agenda.”

Otu Announces N40,000 Minimum Wage In Cross River

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.”

Idris to recruit 2000 teachers in Kebbi
In Kebbi State, Governor Nasir Idris, pledged to recruit 2000 teachers in line with his drive to boost education in the state.

He pledged Haliru Abdu Stadium in Birnin Kebbi to mark 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.

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.

He requested the governor to make good his pledge of being the first governor to pay the new minimum wage when announced by the Federal Government.

Soludo’s Absence Dashes Workers’ Hope In Anambra

In Anambra, the absence of Governor Chukwuma Soludo at this year’s May Day celebration dashed the hope of the workers who expected pronouncement on the new minimum wage and other welfare packages for them.

Some of the workers raised their voices, complaining openly when it became obvious that the governor was not going to attend the ceremony, with some of the labour unions refusing to participate in the ceremonial march past.

The governor was represented by his deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim at the ceremony which took place at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka and he had a tough time calming the workers down with the assurance that Governor Soludo loves them and would do everything possible to improve their welfare.

The state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Humphrey Nwator had, in his address, listed some of the problems facing the workers, including the problematic contributory pensions scheme, the absence of the Civil Service Commission which had been responsible for the non-employment of workers, and the stoppage of the N12,000 monthly wage award which lasted only from September to December 2023.

Ibezim, however, assured the workers that Governor Soludo would look into the problems in addition to providing good governance for the generality of the people.

Fuel Shortage Is Beyond My Control – Oyebanji, Ekiti gov

Addressing workers in Ekiti, during the May Day 2024 celebration held at Ekiti Parapo pavilion, Ado-Ekiti, Governor Biodun Oyebanji said that the fuel scarcity rocking the state and nationwide is beyond his control.

Speaking with journalists after the programme themed: “People First”, Oyebanji said his administration has intensified efforts to ensure that the premium motor spirit popularly known as petrol is supplied to Ekiti soon.

According to him, “I sympathize with the good people of Ekiti, it’s actually beyond our control and we are doing everything humanly possible to take the product to the state but the message we got this morning is that the product is not available in the country and they will start lifting by tomorrow. In the next few days, I expect this to ease. I will just appeal to them to be patient and to be calm.”

Earlier, the leadership of NLC and TUC in their speeches appealed to the state government to reinstate sacked workers of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, EKSU.

Diri Raises 5-man Minimum Wage Committee In Bayelsa

To improve workers’ welfare in Bayelsa, 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, who disclosed this while addressing workers in his May Day Speech at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, the state capital, said Bayelsa State workers have been receiving salaries and wages that are at par with workers in the federal civil service.

Abia To Pay, Backdate Implementation Of New Minimum Wage-Gov Otti

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.

Otti, who gave the assurance while addressing workers Wednesday during Workers’ Day celebration at the Township Stadium Umuahia, 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. We shall 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.”

On the payment of wage award, Otti promised to look into it and take action very soon, a promise, that however did not seem to go down well with the workers as they demanded a definite statement from the governor.