— Adefarati Champions Workers’ Rights, Collaborative Efforts

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

The Chairman of the House Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity, Asiwaju Adegboyega Adefarati, has called for stronger collaboration between the National Assembly and labour unions to improve the welfare of Nigerian workers.

Adefarati made this call during a working visit to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters in Abuja, where he led a delegation to engage with the union’s leadership.

Describing the visit as a crucial step toward reinforcing advocacy for workers’ rights, Adefarati emphasized the importance of open dialogue. He commended the NLC, under the leadership of Comrade Joseph Ajaero, for its proactive engagement and commitment to protecting workers’ interests.

Comrade Ajaero acknowledged the visit as unprecedented and praised the National Assembly for its swift action on the new national minimum wage law.

Adefarati also lauded President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to workers’ welfare, pointing to the prompt passage and implementation of the national minimum wage law as evidence. He highlighted the government’s decision to reduce the wage review period from five years to three years as a progressive step toward timely interventions on labour issues.

He further addressed concerns regarding the law’s implementation and advocated for tax relief to ease the financial burden on workers.

Pledging the House of Representatives’ dedication to upholding workers’ rights, Adefarati stressed the importance of ongoing dialogue to resolve labour disputes and foster mutual respect.

“The vision of an environment where the rights of all workers are upheld and celebrated remains ever more achievable,” Adefarati declared.

The visit marks a significant move toward building a lasting partnership between the legislative arm and labour unions, ensuring continuous engagement on workers’ welfare and broader labour-related matters.