As Akwa Ibom workers join their counterparts worldwide in marking 2019 Workers Day celebrations, the State Government has renewed its pledge to workers to implement the new Minimum Wage Bill recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari signed the bill into law on April 18 empowering employers of labour in Nigeria to pay a worker N30,000 after the National Assembly had passed iit nto into law.
The President had in November 2017 set up a 30-member tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee for the negotiation of a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel who spoke on Wednesday during the May Day Celebrations at Uyo Township Stadium, said his administration was poised to pay the new minimum wage after necessary documentations have been effected.
During his visit to consult workers on his re-election bid on Monday, February 11, this year at the Workers Solidarity Centre, Nigeria Labour Congress Secretariat, Atan Offot in Uyo local government area, Emmanuel assured of his administration’s readiness to pay workers the new minimum wage.
“We remain passionately committed the welfare of our workers to the full extent of the resources available. I promise to always keep a listening ear to your issues and concerns and together, the peace we have enjoyed all-round will continue to flourish and abound in our State,” he noted.
The governor commended the Organized Labour for being supportive to his administration, saying “I remain deeply indebted and grateful. The maintenance of industrial peace in Akwa Ibom State has helped in the realization of a stable economic growth in the State and an atmosphere of shared commitment to peace, prosperity and development of our dear State.”
Emmanuel recalled “I made a pledge to you in 2015 when I assumed the saddle of leadership of this State that as a proud son of dedicated school teachers, I will be a Labour-friendly Governor, and so far, I believe I have lived up to the expectations. You have been good partners and I look forward to the deepening of this harmonious relationship with you as we get set for our Second Term.
He was particularly happy that “This Year’s Workers’ Day in Akwa Ibom State is particularly significant in that the three major organized Labour entities namely: NLC, TUC and ULC are holding a joint celebration for the first time. This symbolizes unity amongst the workers and we should all be very proud of this huge achievement.”
The governor used the occasion to congratulate the new State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Elder Sunny James and the entire new EXCO on their election, stating “I look forward to a continuous good working relationship with you while I also thank most sincerely the immediate past NLC EXCO for the great works they did for the Organized Labour in the State and the cooperation they extended to my Administration. You are all, indeed, great patriots.
Applauding “the theme for this year’s Labour Day is Another Hundred Years of Struggle for Jobs, Dignity and Social Justice in Nigeria, he observed “I can say here without the slightest feeling of immodesty that under my administration, we have taken steps to create jobs through our industrialization efforts, bring dignity to our workers through regular payment of salaries and other entitlements and try to have a society where peace, security and social justice form the building blocks of our daily interactions.
“It appears the organizers of this year’s event had us in mind when they picked the theme because what the Organised Labour seek to achieve this year, we are already in the vanguard of the push to achieve them!
“As you celebrate this year’s Workers’ Day, I urge you to continue to support our policy drive toward sustainable development. I enjoin the workers not to be willing tools in the hands of some mischief -makers whose stock-in trade is to disseminate falsehood and propaganda, all aimed at de-marketing our State and our achievements.”
Meanwhile, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Wednesday, assured Nigerian workers that the Buhari-led administration is not ignoring their demands of better working conditions.
Osinbajo gave the assurance while speaking at the 2018 Workers’ Day celebration at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Tuesday as he explained the implementation of the new national minimum wage.
In his message, President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, saluted Nigerians workers for their tireless contribution to the socio-economic development of the country, in spite of fluctuating economic realities.
Saraki, in a message of goodwill to mark the 2019 Workers’ Day celebration, signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, also commended the leadership and members of the organised labour for their patriotism in often choosing dialogue rather than industrial action in resolving trade disputes.
He expressed hope that workers would be encouraged to always put in their best in working to uplift and sustain the nation’s economy, in view of the recent signing into law of a new minimum wage of N30,000. “No nation can develop without a virile and agile workforce. It is trite to say that workers are the mainstay of our nation’s economy, since no policy of government, no matter how remote, will succeed without the commitment and collaboration of workers saddled with implementation.
“However, having interacted with Nigerian workers and their leadership times without number, I can say without fear of contradiction that the nation’s workforce is among the best in the continent,” he stated.
“All that is left is to adequately harness their abundant talents and spirit of patriotism to further improve on the nation’s economic and political development through timely and adequate motivation, training and retraining. The public sector should work to ensure that the country realizes her potentials. It should eliminate tardiness, increase the level of discipline and strive to provide enabling environment for the private sector to thrive with the resultant broadening of the scope of national prosperity”, Saraki stated.
He called on the leadership of organised labour to continue to discharge their responsibilities in the overall interest of the country and her people while the government would continue to do its best to meet the yearnings and aspirations of workers and other Nigerians through sustainable welfare programmes.
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended Nigerian workers for their service towards the stability and development of the dear nation.
The party also acknowledged the patriotism and resilience of the workers, particularly for remaining steadfast to the course of nation building, in spite of the harsh economic conditions foisted on them by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
The PDP said it is rather unfortunate that Nigerian workers found themselves operating under an administration that does not appreciate their inputs; that has no tangible strategy for their much-needed capacity building and reward system, but only relishes in Greek gifts and official bullying.
The PDP in a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, cautioned Federal Government that the N30,000 minimum wage should not be a justification for any form of bullying or victimisation against the workers.
“The Buhari-led APC administration must elevate its discourse in understanding that workers welfare is not tied to a minimum wage but in creating conducive working environment, established capacity building and reward system as well as a secure and economically viable environment that enable the workers, and indeed all Nigerians to meet their social and economic needs without stress; as contained in the Atiku Abubakar Master Plan.
“It is however unfortunate that at the time Nigerian workers should have been getting ready to enjoy the benefits of a new order under Atiku Abubakar, the nation is being set back by the ills of electoral manipulations”, the party stated. The PDP nevertheless, urged the Nigerian workers not to be despondent, as the mandate, which was freely given to Atiku Abubakar, will be retrieved at the tribunal. It called on the workers, as patriotic Nigerians, to continue to put in their best in serving the nation even as it wishes them a happy Workers Day.
Moreover, Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, on Tuesday, felicitated with Nigerian workers on the occasion of the 2019 Worker’s Day. In a statement made available to journalists, the minister said the theme of this year’s celebration which is “Another 100 Years of Struggle for Jobs, Dignity and Social Justice in Nigeria” aligns with the vision and efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari to not only uplift the lots of the Nigerian worker, but to also leave a legacy of a buoyant economy capable of creating a sustainable abundance for the people.
“On behalf of the Management and Staff of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment as well as its parastatals, I wish to send warm felicitations to the Nigerian workers on the occasion of 2019 Worker’s Day.
“The uniqueness of this year’s event manifests eventfully in its co-incidence with the Centenary celebration of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) which Nigeria proudly pioneered as the first Country Office in Africa sixty Years ago, in Lagos, 1959.
“While I sincerely salute the resilience of the nation’s workforce and its numerous contributions to national development, we owe plentiful accolades to the most labour-friendly President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, who took practical steps to douse the restiveness in the labour force he inherited four years ago due to unpaid salaries and allowances.
“He released bailout funds at the State and Federal level, and capped it all with a New National Minimum Wage for the Nigerian working class in public and private sectors.” However, Ngige expressed optimism that things will get better in the ‘Next Level’ even as he wished the workers a productive and fulfilling Worker’s Day celebration.
