Workers in the public and private sectors of Delta state on May 1, joined their counterparts in the country to celebrate this year’s Workers Day with the theme “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economy Hardship”.
The event which took place at the Cenotaph, Asaba, attracted workers from the affiliate unions of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC.
Addressing the workers, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori commended them for their dedication, resilience and commitment, describing them as the backbone of the state’s progress.
The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, said his administration had placed workers in the heart of the MORE Agenda and had taken steps to enhance their welfare to ensure they thrived in the workplace with dignity.
He affirmed that his administration had been consistent with prompt payment of salaries and pension, while pension backlogs had been cleared, adding that he had also introduced training to boost skills.
According to the Governor, his administration had upgraded and revitalized healthcare centres and renovated schools to support work environment, while his entrepreneurship initiatives had empowered artisans and small scale business owners, thereby creating jobs and boosting incomes.
The Governor said despite the economic challenges, he had invested in infrastructure, roads, bridges and markets to reduce transportation cost and boost trade, adding that his administration had supported agriculture to enhance food security and stabilize prices, all adding these efforts were geared towards making life better for every worker.
While affirming that his whistle blower policy was aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in governance, Governor Oborevwori said the policy was designed to protect workers who exposed wrong doing and saved public resources for the common good of all.
A NLC/TUC joint address, read by Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, highlighted the challenges faced by workers due to the economic hardship and encouraged workers not to despair.
He said the theme of this year’s Workers Day” Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship” was a call on workers to be courageous, determined and willing to confront the difficult times and be united to shape the future of generations to come.
Comrade Ofobruku urged the state government to invest in low cost housing for workers, tackle insecurity, replace nurses and midwives at the primary healthcare centers who had traveled for greener pastures, promote primary school graduate teachers to grade level 17 rather than stagnated them on grade
level 14 to boost their morale, resume the payment of rural and riverine allowances to workers concerned, as well as payment of pensioners, among other issues.
The highlight of the event was a match past by the affiliate unions, with the Governor’s representative, flanked by the Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor and Supervisor, Labour Relations and Servicom Office, Rt.Honourable Solomon Funkekeme and labour leaders taking the salute.
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