Workers Day: Ondo Labour decries spate of insecurity in Nigeria
By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
The organized Labour in Ondo State, have decried the increasing spates of insecurity in the country, saying that the present security architecture in the country can no longer safeguard the lives and properties of the citizenry.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Sunday Adeleye, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC), Counterpart in the state, Helen Odofin, said this at the 2021 Workers Day Celebration in Akure, the state capital.
They affirmed that there is need for the international community to assist Nigeria in tackling the insecurity bedeviling the nation.
“Nigeria is no longer a safe place to live, traditional warfare method being used by our military is no longer fashionable and can never resolve the current spate of insecurity in the land.
“We hasten to suggest that the President of the nation should seek help from international communities without delay by way of seeking support mercenaries,” Odofin said.
She, however, said the rising cases of bloodshed and wanton destruction show that the nation is at the verge of collapse.
Sunday Adeleye, the NLC Chairman, while speaking lamented that “we cannot continue like this, government must make up to its responsibility and be ready to face headlong this ugly issue of mindless killing of our people.
“As civil servants, we have had our terrible share of this bitter pill,” he said, lauding the efforts put in place by the state government to drastically curb insecurity.”
The Labour leaders urged the government to wake up to its responsibility and be ready to face headlong the ugly issue of mindless killing of the people.
On his own part, Alex Ajipe, the Convener of Ibi Giga Ambassadors, advocated better welfare packages for civil servants across the states of federation.
According to him, every society must remember and appreciate its workers as they are the real heroes of the society, adding that Workers Day was about remembering and celebrating those who give their time, best efforts and work hard for the good of the society.
Ajipe, in a statement made available to journalists in Akure by his Media Aide, Solomon Adewoye, to commemorate this year Workers Day, however, described workers in Ondo state as chief development and growth partners that must be adequately compensated.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, while reiterating his commitment towards welfarism of workers in the state, said his administration’s vow to make the welfare of the civil servants a priority remains unswerving.
Akeredolu, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Dare Aragbaye, however, lauded the workers, particularly the labour leaders for the robust relationship and understanding shown his administration in handling labour matters.
“Undoubtedly, in the last four years plus, we have displayed total commitment to the welfare of our workers. We believe the workforce is the engine room of governance. We have placed premium on sanitizing the civil service and depoliticizing the system.
“We have severed ties with the obnoxious practice that views all issues affecting the civil service from the prism of politics and ethnicity. Promotion and appointment of workers and Permanent Secretaries have been done as and when due, and on merit.
“We shall continue to pursue excellence and provide a good working environment so that the workforce will continue to function effectively,” the Governor said.
