Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), Ogun State chapter, on Wednesday, urged Governor Dapo Abiodun, to rejuvenate Workers’ Loan Board to cushion the effects of economic harship occasioned by increase in cost of fuel, food commodities, naira devaluation, among others, on the work force in the state.
NLC Chairman, Com. Hammed Benco-Ademola, made this appeal at this year’s Workers’ Day event with the theme: ‘People First’, charging Abiodun led administration to reconsider reawaken Workers’ Loan Board to aid financial capability of workers.
Benco-Ademola noted that if the workers’ loan board was restored it would make workers financially boyant and improve their living conditions as well as catering for their needs and that of their families, insisting that such is needed to ameliorate the suffering of labour members in this period of economic hardship
He said “Workers loan board. The leadership of Nigeria labour Congress kindly appeal to your excellency to refurblish a worker’s loan board, it is not just a suggestion but a neccesssity to improve the living standards of our worker, too many of our hardworking men and women are struggling to make ends mean, having burden by financial hardships that prevent them from fully realising their potentials. A workers’ loan board will much needed financial assistance to those facing difficult times and allevating the suffering of our workers.”
The NLC Chairman also called on the governor to repair dilapidated roads in the state, commending his efforts on workers welfare programmes, while asking for the government commitment to his workers and asking for additional personnel in work force inorder to delivery of quality services
The State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) Com. Akeem Lasisi, on his part, charged both state and federal government to urgently address the issues of unemployment, high cost of living, worsening poverty and naira devalue which inturn would reduce the economic harships and suffering of the people.
Lasisi stated that labour would not give up their cries until their needs and demands were met by both government at the central and the state especially on the call for the new minimum wage and not the increase as recently announced to cater for the welfare of members and better their lives.
He said “Our leaders must place people first in all policies. Nigerians are expecting incentives that would address the economic challenges facing the nation and those initiatives that would strengthen the purchasing power of Nigerians. If our leaders want to put people first, unemployment, high cost of living, worsening poverty, frustration in the land, and the devaluation of the naira must be adequately addressed.”
“Labour will continue to bark and when necessary bite until those rights and privileges of our members are made accessible and are gotten for them. For us, society is built by all: political leadership and workforce. While we recognise this trajectory, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, as a responsible and responsive Centre, will never trade those things that are due to our members for anything. We will continue to raise our voices until the government and employers of labour do what is expected of them.” he added.
Earlier, Abiodun, while speaking on the efforts of his administration in catering for the welfare of the work force in the state, said his government would remain committed in payment workers salaries, gratuities and pensions as well as improving their working environment.
He said his administration would not derail from the ” frame work that will improve the lives and living conditions of workers and the entire people of the state”.