By Adekola Afolabi & Babatunde Ayedoju

|

Labour leaders in Ondo state have applauded the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for putting smiles on the faces of workers in the state.
The organised labour disclosed that workers have enjoyed virtually all the benefits due to them as workers of the state.
The labour leaders who spoke at the 2021 May Day celebration held at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade, Akure, particularly assured Governor Akeredolu of workers’ readiness to reciprocate all the gestures with more hard work in order to achieve the government’s REDEEMED agenda.
This is coming as Governor Akeredolu saluted all workers in the state for keeping faith with his administration despite downturn in the national economy.
Speaking at the May Day celebration, the state Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Sunday Adeleye and his Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade (Mrs) Helen Odofin, said government has shown magnanimity in salary payment as more than 70% of government earnings goes monthly into over head cost, just as they further appealed to government to continue to give workers’ welfare a priority.
Comrade Adeleye who equally commended Akeredolu for the appointment of Mr. Dare Aragbaiye as Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties; Mr. Niran Adeyemo as new Head of Service, appointment of Permanent Secretaries, promotion of eligible workers as and when due, employment of youths into some critical sectors, also added that appointment of Aragbaiye would further cement the good industrial relation and harmony between workers and government.
He noted as workers, their duty was to support the present day government by discharging their duties as expected and as spelt out in their instrument of employment, promising that organised labour would be ready to partner with the state government in keeping workers on their job.
The theme of this year’s celebration is, “COVID-19 Pandemic: Social and Economic Crisis, Challenge for job, Social Protections and People’s Welfare”.
The NLC chairman lauded government’s intervention in the heat of the Coronavirus during which workers could not come to work for more than six months and government kept faith with their welfare especially the payment of salaries and special allowance to front line workers.
But decried the spate of insecurity in the country, noting that it is the first and basic responsibility of any government to protect the lives and property of the citizens.
“Nigeria, I am afraid to say is sliding into a state of anarchy where some elements in the name of bandits, kidnappers, herdsmen, etc daily kidnap, pick- up and kill innocent citizens is nothing short of an anarchical situation “, he stressed
On her part, Comrade Odofin said the labour leaders were proud of the state government for being one of the few States that have implemented the National Minimum Wage, adding that while some States were seeing the minimum wage as a financial burden and have resorted to mass sacking of workers, Governor Akeredolu has not only recruited more workers but also promoted deserving officers.
Speaking at the ceremony, the State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, lauded the labour leaders in the state for their maturity, understanding, sense of purpose, sacrifice and patience in the face of the difficulties in the global economy which have affected the welfare of workers across the country.
He explained every worker wants better working hours, better welfare and better pay, but the capacity of employers to meet the demands is often limited in view of the competing demands for the meagre resources at their disposal.
While explaining that Ondo State is one of the leading States that have implemented the N30,000 New Minimum Wage in the country, the Governor represented by the Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Mr Dare Aragbaiye promised his administration would continue to treat with dispatch matters that have to do with welfare of workers.
He highlighted some of the achievements of his administration in the area of workers’ welfare to include recruitment of 4, 277 personnel to some critical sectors of the public service from 2017 to date, payment of six out of seven months salaries and pensions owed by the previous administration, regular release of fund for payment of backlog of unpaid gratuity inherited in 2017, and regular promotion of workers till date with accruing benefits.
Others are, implementation of 33% basic pension increase for pensioners in the state public service up till October 2011, appointment of 62 Permanent Secretaries, seven Tutors-General and one Statistician -General between 2017 and 2021 in the state public service, implementation of car loan regime for teachers in primary schools , among others.
Comptroller of Labour, Comrade Michael Afolayan who represented National President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, commended the harmonious relationship between workers and the government of Ondo State, saying such understanding would bring development to the Sunshine State.
Also speaking with journalists, a veteran, labour leader, Comrade (Pastor) Oyekan Arije, stressed the need for issues raised at the workers’ day celebration to be attended to promptly, “each time we are celebrating Workers’ Day, whatever labour leaders say should be critically examined and attended to, so that we don’t continue to raise the same issue.”