Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has pledged to continue to give priority to the welfare of workers in the State, reiterating his administration’s commitment to delivering all its promises to the State’s Workforce and Lagosians.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who gave the assurance at the Y2021 Workers’ Day Celebration held at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, Onikan in Lagos on Saturday, commended the State Unions for their cooperation and support towards the actualisation of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of his administration.
He expressed his happiness on the industrial harmony in the State, while handing over 10 hectares of Land to the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), with a promise to build a suitable headquarters for them within the next 12 months.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also said that members of the Trade Union Congress and Nigerian Labour Congress would be given ample considerations for appointment opportunities for public offices.
According to him, “Amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, we have ensured that the total welfare of our workers remains paramount. A large population of our workforce at various times were asked to stay at home and stay protected”
“Despite Lagos being the epicentre of COVID-19 in Nigeria, we were able to partner and dialogue with business owners to be considerate with their employees during this period. It’s on record that no worker in the entire Lagos State Public Service was asked to stop work or got suspended on account of the disease”, he revealed.
In his speech, the Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Gbenga Ekundayo, noted that despite the impact of COVID-19 on national and personal economies, the Lagos State Government under the watch of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remained consistent in prioritising the welfare of the State’s workforce.
Ekundayo said, “It is a fact that COVID-19 created a lot of excuses for so many Governors to renege on their constitutional responsibility. However, the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu led administration kept the welfare of Lagos workers at the front burner by ensuring that salaries and other statutory deductions were paid as and when due”.
Similarly, the Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Chapter, Mrs. Funmilayo Sesi-Akinsanmi, applauded Governor Sanwo-Olu for his management of the pandemic, adding that the Governor accorded high priority to the lives of people than making profits.
The theme of the Year 2021 Workers’ Day Celebration is “COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Economic Crisis, Challenges for Decent Jobs, Social Protection and People’s Welfare”.
The highlight of the day was the March Past by all the Unions present amidst strict COVID-19 protocols.
