By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

Governor Babtunde Fashola of Lagos State, executive members of both Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC of Nigeria, yesterday, led the other workers’ unions in commemorating this year’s Workers Day, with various speakers lamenting the myriad of problems confronting the nation’s industrial sub-sector.

Fashola and the labour leaders agreed that the lapses in the system had prevented the country from moving forward in the industrial sector.

The theme of this year’s celebration at Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island was 100 Years of Nationhood: Challenges of National Development.

Some dignitaries at the event were Lagos State Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope Adefulire; Speaker, state House of Assermbly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; representative of the Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity; Chairman state NLC, Idowu Adelakun; Chairman TUC, Akeem Kazeem; state Head of Service, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe and members of the state Executive Council, among others.

Speaking during the ceremony, Fasshola traced the primary problem in the sector to frequent strikes embarked upon by the workers and urged labour unions to always explore amicable ways of resolving industrial disputes with their employers.

He noted that the frequent use of strikes to pursue workers’ cause undermined productivity, as it impacted negatively on development.

… as Imoke donates to labour

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has said that a well-motivated labour will strive to ensure service delivery.

Imoke stated this while presenting two pick-up vans, a bus and other incentives to labour during the 2013 Joint May Day celebration at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

According to the governor, the pick-ups were for the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, respectively, while the bus was for the Nigerian Pensioners Association.

The governor disclosed that the Ministry of Lands and Housing is developing the cost and estimate for a proposed NLC secretariat in the state, while it has also actively implemented the revised new tax regime, thereby putting additional resources in the hands of the workers.

He said as a state with a high proportion of its workforce in the public sector, it had accelerated the management of the process of promotion.

to ensure that deserving workers across the state are promoted as and when due, while the Local Government Service Commission had been directed to immediately commence the implementation of promotion of its staff.