MAY DAY: GOVS MAKE PROMISES ON WORKERS WELFARE

IBADAN-AS workers across the country mark the workers day, Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala has advised the Governor-elect in Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to ensure that he implements the welfare workers package he met on ground.

The advice was given yesterday by the out-going governor through his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Prince Dotun Oyelade in a statement.

The out-going administration of Governor Akala had frosty relationship with the workforce in the state which resulted in several industrial crises.

He said, the 'in-coming administration should emulate the package already in place and strive to improve on it'.

Meanwhile, Governor Akala , weekend, setup a 21-man Transition Committee to liaise closely with the in-coming administration so as to ensure a hitch free transition  and transfer of baton to the in-coming administration.

He charged the Committee Members to cooperate fully with their counterparts from the Governor-Elect and furnish them with all necessary information without any hindrance.

Lamido assures Jigawa workers of better life
Dutse-Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has reiterated his administration's commitment to enhancing the welfare of workers in the state, saying 'workers will continue to get the deserved attention in the state.'

Governor Lamido who stated this Sunday while addressing workers in the state during this year's Workers' Day celebration, appealled to the workers to reciprocate government's efforts by being dedicated to their duties.

He commended the workers for their patience and support during the last election, assuring that they would not regret voting for the PDP-led government. Governor Lamido promised that with their co-operation,  more would be done.

Earlier, the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Suleiman Kiyawa, congratulated the governor  for winning the just-concluded gubernatorial election, and promised that the workers would improve their productivity work.

Kiyawa noted that the state government was the first to approve the 53.3 per cent salary increment, which, according to him, had boosted the morale of the workers.

He posited that apart from implementing the 53.5per cent salary increment, the state also implemented the payment of CONHESS and CONTODELL, COMPACASS etc and other related increments approved by the Federal Government.

The Jigawa NLC chairman appealled  to the government to construct a library within the state secretariat to enable workers access national and international related issues.

…As Kwara NLC tasks gov-elect on new minimum pay
Ilorin -The Kwara State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has tasked the in-coming government of Alhaji  Abdulfatah Ahmed, to ensure that pensioners are included in the implementation of the N18,000 new minimum wage.

Speaking during the May Day celebrations, yesterday, at the Amusement Park in Ilorin, the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Umar Faruk Akanbi, demanded that Local Government and Primary School Teachers should also be included.

The NLC chairman further requested payment of balance of arrears of 142 per cent of retired local government workers and primary schools Teachers without further delay.

Akanbi advised the government to scrap illegal parks and  enact a law to regulate motor park operations in the state to check the  operations of illegal motor parks.

The Head of Service, Alhaji Muhammed Dabarako, who represented Governor Bukola Saraki, called for continued cooperation between labour and government and peaceful  industrial atmosphere  in the state.

Sylva to pay N18,000 minimum wage
Yenagoa-Workers in Bayelsa State, yesterday, now have  cause to smile as the state government, said it will be the first to implement the N18,000 new minimum wage.

Governor Timipre Sylva, gave the assurance on the occasion of this year workers day celebration in Yenagoa.  According to him, a committee had been set up by the government to study the modalities for the payment of the minimum wage bill.

He said, 'with the signing of the Minimum Wage Bill into Law, the Bayelsa State government has set up a committee to study it carefully, and it is my honour to announce to you that ours will probably be the first state government to pay the minimum wage of N18,000.'

Sylva, who described the workers as occupying a special place in the nation fledgling democracy, said they are the engine and foot soldiers of the government of the day and the producers of the goods and services that keep the country going.

While reiterating his commitment to the welfare of workers in line with the theme of this year workers day,  'Growing the National Economy for Job Creation and People's Welfare,' the governor, said his administration had commenced the process of addressing the issue of casual workers with the Civil Service Commission conducting interviews to employ qualified persons into the state service.

Beware of politicians, Uduaghan tells workers
ASABA-DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has called on the state's works  not to allow politics to have the centre stage while raising labour issues for arbitration, insisting that  it was better for civil servants to 'leave politicking to politicians.'

The governor gave the admonition while addressing the workers, yesterday, during the celebration of this year's May Day in Asaba, Delta State.

Political observers believed that the admonition came on the heels of strong suspicion that majority of the workers, who reside in Asaba, the state capital (Oshimili South) voted against the governor during last Tuesday's governorship poll.

Uduaghan, represented by his deputy, Prof Amos Utuama, SAN, said, 'I urge civil servants to stick strictly to the tenets of the civil service and leave politicking to politicians.'

He, however, assured the workers that 'despite the tight financial environment, we will strive to continually meet our obligations to the workers of ths state as at when due. All we expect from you (workers) in return is greater dedication, patience and loyalty to the government.'

….Daniel salutes workers
ABEOKUTA-GOVERNOR Olugbenga Daniel of Ogun State has enjoined workers in the state to continue their service with renewed vigour, improved industry, professionalism and commitment even as the countdown to a new administration begins.

He said though the administration of the Sate would soon change, the workers must continue to display those qualities that have made the Ogun State workforce the best in the country.

Daniel in his last May Day address to the workers saluted them for playing a pivotal role in the success of his administration, adding that he was able to achieve much because of the commitment, loyalty and unparalleled professionalism of  the states workforce which translated government programmes and policies into concrete reality for the benefit of the people.

He said 'I deeply appreciate the cooperation and support my administration enjoyed from the generality of the work force. The giant strides  we recorded in all facets of life have been due to the commitment of the workforce. Without doubt we have reciprocated their loyalty through workers' friendly policies and programmes  that have made our  state outstanding in terms of workers welfare. It is also noteworthy that the last eight years have been devoid of rancour, misgivings and wranglings between government and the labour force.'

Fayemi to Labour: Agitate for increased revenue allocation to states

ADO-EKITI-Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has called on Labour to join forces with state governors in agitating for the restructuring of the revenue allocation formula.

Fayemi who made the call yesterday at the May Day Rally said Labour's involvement in the campaign for a more equitable sharing formula of the nation's wealth would enable states to meet the demands for increased minimum wage across board.

The governor, however, reiterated the commitment of his administration to do all things within its limited resources to enhance the workers' welfare to make them perform better and add value to the economy of the state.

Describing workers as 'the proverbial hen that lays the golden egg', Fayemi promised that no worker will be sacked or victimized for no just cause while everything possible would be done to ensure a peaceful industrial climate in the state, stressed that the story must change for better in the state.