By Editor
Barely 48 hours to the 2024 edition of Workers Day, organized labour unions in Ekiti State on Monday, called a pre-May Day press conference where issues concerning workers’ welfare and expectations were addressed.
Held at Egbewa NLC House with the theme: ‘Peoples first’ the labour leaders drew the attention of authorities to the prioritization of people’s welfare in their policy thrusts.
In a keynote address, the Chairman of Ekiti TUC Comrade Sola Adigun said; “Today offers us an opportunity to call on our political leaders at all levels of governance in this country to put the people first in all their plans and programs. When government wants to enact policies, such as on economy, security, social amenities and other programs, they should consider the people first, they should enact people-oriented policies”
He stated that though workers’ demands have not been largely met but expressed gratitude that the country is presently enjoying an uninterrupted civilian democracy spanning 24 years.
“Though our expectations as workers and as Nigerian citizens have not been met, but on yearly basis, we come together to celebrate efforts of our heroes past and present and to also call the attention of our employees either in government or in the private or informal sector to the need of being committed to the welfare of workers.”
On the agitations for better working conditions for workers, Adigun traced the origin of labour movements to the workers revolt of 1866 in Europe which was being replicated in Nigeria and across the globe as the precursor to the May Day being celebrated in Nigeria since 1981.
On his own part the NLC Chairman Comrade Kolapo Olatunde reiterated the unions resolve to impress it on all layers of government to think of the ordinary people first as the theme of this year’s Workers Day suggested.
He however applauded the Governor of Ekiti State Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for his workers’friendly policies as he sighted the reinstatement of the sacked workers of the State House of Assembly, the release of N650m to the subvented institutions in Ekiti, prompt payment of gratuities and the wage awards amongst other incentives to Ekiti workers.
On the controversial minimum wage, the labour leader disclosed that negotiations are ongoing because according to him, “30,000 Naira minimum wage cannot take anybody home”
He made a passionate appeal to the Governor for the reinstatement of the 67 sacked workers of Ekiti State University.
His words: “On behalf of the organized labour in Ekiti State I wish to seize this opportunity to please appeal to Mr Governor, lover of workers, lover of progress , an intelligent individual who has the interest and welfare of the people at heart to please come to the aid of disengaged workers of Ekiti State University. To please make this as a gift of May Day Wednesday May 1st this year” he said.
At the well attended meeting of all affliated labour unions in the state, the labour leaders resolved to gather in large number for the Wednesday rally at the Ekiti Parapo pavilion
