PDP, APC, DPC, Atiku, Makarfi, Kalu: Workers deserve to be appreciated

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Nigerian workers on the occasion of the 2018 Workers’ Day Celebration.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Monday reads:
“The party calls on our workers to defend our democracy and resist the repression of Nigerians by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
“Nigerian workers must also not spare any energy in raising a strong voice against the violation of human rights and manifest insensitivity of the Buhari administration to the unabated mass killing of compatriots in Benue, Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa, Yobe, Borno, Plateau, Zamfara and other parts of our country by marauders and insurgents.
“Our labour force must also speak out against harsh anti-people policies and the corruption ravaging the Buhari administration, leading to the collapse of our once robust economy with loss of over 24 million jobs and attendant acute hardship, poverty and destitution in our country today.
“In the last three years, Nigerian workers, in all sectors, have been receiving the short end of the stick while the safety nets established by the PDP have all been eroded. Purchasing power of our workers has fallen to its lowest; the middle class has been eroded, while palliative institutions such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) set up to provide succor for workers have become cash cows for corrupt agents of the Presidency and the APC.
“Furthermore, we urge our workers to defend our democracy by standing against incessant constitutional violations, interferences and invasion of the legislature and the judiciary, persecution and harassment of opposition and lack of transparency in the system.
“Labour unions made a lot of sacrifices to earn the nation’s independence as well as the return of democratic rule in 1999 and must therefore stand to defend our democracy and the unity of our nation.
“We, therefore, charge our workers to save our nation by taking up their Permanent Voters Card and vote out this incompetent and repressive administration come February 2019, so that next year’s Workers’ Day celebration would be a celebration of freedom in Nigeria.
“On our part, as a party committed to the wellbeing of all Nigerians, the PDP restates its commitment to our workers even as we salute their courage, resilience and commitment to nation building”
In a related development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other workers’ groups to sustain ongoing dialogue with Federal Government on improving workers’ salaries and welfare.
The party made the call in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abudulahi, on Monday in Abuja.
It said that Nigerian workers remained a key driver of the country’s multi-facet development.
The party felicitated with the workers on the International Workers Day celebration, and called on labour and trade unions to tread the path of dialogue in fighting for improved emolument for workers.
It stated that Nigerian workers unarguably remained one of the most dedicated, resilient and hardworking in the world.
It noted that in spite of challenges, particularly on the economy, Nigerian workers had stayed positive and had been partners in nation-building.
The party said that the workers had also contributed towards efforts to take the country to its deserved heights.
The International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day in some countries, is a celebration of labourers and the working class.
It is promoted by the International Labour Movement and is celebrated every year on May 1.
The day, usually declared as public holiday, was first promoted by the International Workers Association in 1904 to commemorate the killing of protesting labourers in Haymarket Square in Chicago, U.S., in 1886.
The Nigerian labour movement under the aegis of the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC), organise rally every year to celebrate the day.
The rally provides the platform for organised labour to demand for improved welfare for workers.
The demand for a new minimum wage is expected to feature prominently in speeches to be delivered by labour leaders across the country at this year’s celebration.
Negotiations between the Federal and state governments on the one hand and labour leaders on the other, on proposed new minimum wage of N66,500 are currently ongoing.
Also, the Democratic People’s Congress (DPC), on Monday, joined millions of Nigerians to felicitate with patriotic Nigerian work force on the occasion of this year’s May Day celebration on May 1.
The felicitation is in a statement by the National Chairman, Rev. Olusegun Peters, in Abuja.
Peters said Nigerian workers were the best in Africa and among the best in the world.
According to him, workers are the pride of the nation whose exceptional resilience, patriotism, intellectual ability, managerial acumen, tenacity and sagacity of purpose stabilised the polity.
The chairman said workers had been directing the ship of Nigeria to the path of rectitude, progress and development.
He added that “Nigerian workers demonstrated their love for their fatherland in the struggle for independence where they resisted British colonial masters through calculated industrial actions.
“The workers opposed obnoxious military decrees and actions that undermined the wellbeing of Nigerian people and unity of the nation which ushered in democratic freedom which the citizenry enjoy today.
“DPC identifies with the Nigerian workers in our collective efforts at building strong, virile, progressive, prosperous and decent democratic society.
“Nigerian workers have contributed to the growth of the nation in spite of challenges: it is time to protect and reward the workers in tandem with Section 14(2) b of the 1999 constitution (as amended).
“The section provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.’’
Peters called on Federal Government to approve the Nigerian Labour Congress’ proposed new minimum wage and reflect same in the 2018 appropriate bill being considered by the National Assembly.
According to him, civil servants in the country work hard but earn little and owe so much.
He said “the current minimum wage of N18,000 is not applicable today due to high cost of living that has made life unbearable for most Nigerians, particularly civil servants.’’
He noted that the free fall of the Naira in foreign exchange market contributed to the economic woes of the nation and called for incentives to boost workers’ morale.
He urged state governments to pay outstanding salary arrears owed workers this month in preparation for the take-off of the new minimum wage.
According to him, the era of owing workers while top public office holders live in luxury from looted funds is over.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, urged labour leaders to engage the Federal Government on minimum wage, industrialisation, education, healthcare delivery and pension.
In a statement in Abuja on Monday, Abubakar said that the minimum wage of ₦18,000 per month (less than $50) as currently obtained was ill-motivating and embarrassing considering the current economic reality.
He said that while it was adequate that the Federal Government could set the standard for national minimum wage, state governments, especially the rich states, should not see the standard as the maximum wage.
According to Abubakar, the minimum should be simply considered as the baseline for them to build on.
“I believe that our Federal Government will become smarter when it is smaller and more flexible in addressing the needs of our labour force,’’ he said.
The former vice-president added that the continuing rate of de-industrialization in Nigeria’s economy was of grave concern, saying the manufacturing sector which was supposed to create jobs had continued to face decline.
He attributed the decline to unfavourable conditions imposed by challenges of epileptic power supply, high cost of credit, multiple exchange rate regimes, and in extreme cases, inadequate foreign exchange supply and depreciating value of the naira.
“The ability to broker the required synergy with international partners and the private sector in key sectors of the economy should be the basis for the 2019 engagement with the organized labour and the Nigerian people,’’ he said.
These, according to him, include automobile, textiles, agro-allied, petrochemicals, fertilizers and pharmaceutical industries, building materials, milling, paper and paper products, solid minerals, iron and steel.
Abubakar also said that the country’s educational sector had continued to suffer decline, noting that agreements freely entered into by workers’ unions and the government had experienced serious setbacks resulting from the authorities’ penchant for reneging.
He added that funding for the educational sector had also remained abysmally low, saying “this problem cuts across all tiers of government.
“As we speak today, the Central Bank of Nigeria is in custody of billions of naira, funds representing Federal Government’s share of Universal Basic Education Fund, which state governments are expected to draw from by paying counterpart funding.
“Majority of the states have failed to benefit from this fund because they have not provided the required matching funds.
“I am a firm believer in our youths and the height at which they can take this country if accorded quality and affordable education.’’
He said that Nigeria had a better potential if a little more attention was accorded to developing its human resources through the education of the youth and adult population.
“We must increase funding for our education and research institutions where the foundational rubrics of our development can be hatched and nurtured.’’
Abubakar added that there was an urgent need to make serious commitments to massive investment in the healthcare delivery system.
“We need a leadership that can gather enough investment in the upgrade of infrastructure and procurement of modern healthcare technology and equipment for our hospitals and primary and secondary healthcare facilities.”
He expressed concern over cases of workers leaving public service and having to wait for up to 15 months to18 months for their pension issues to be processed, and non-payment to pensioners, especially by state governments.
He said there was no doubt that labour movement in Nigeria had a huge role to play in ensuring that the objectives and reform of the sector were met.
Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, also rejoiced with workers on the May Day celebration.
In a statement signed by Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo, the former Kaduna State governor described workers as “the engine which runs any nation’s life-support system and they deserve to be appreciated, celebrated and feted on this day”.
“The Senator joins compatriots in saluting Nigerian workers’ consistent courage, dedication and perseverance in the service of society and appeals to them to use this day to reflect on how much more they can contribute to nation-building. Countries are only as efficient, fit and strong as their workforce is.
“Senator Makarfi  also shares in the  deep disappointment with the deteriorating socioeconomic conditions under which our workers and majority of Nigerians live and work today but also urges that we all persevere and continue to work towards creating a better tomorrow. 
“May the Almighty God continue to bless Nigerian workers. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
Eminent businessman and former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Kalu, urged the public and private sectors to make the welfare of workers a top priority in their organisational goal.
He acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian labour force to national well being, adding that the government must provide a conducive work environment for workers to demonstrate their intellectual capacity.
Kalu, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, in commemoration of the 2018 Labour Day, reaffirmed the determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to take Nigeria to enviable heights.
He stressed that no nation can develop without a vibrant labour force, adding that Nigeria is blessed with enormous human capital.
Kalu said: ” The labour force is being celebrated today and always across the globe owing to the key role they play in national development.
“The demography of Nigeria is such that if workers are motivated to work aggressively, the nation will quickly take its rightful place in the comity of nations.‎
“As an employer of labour, I do understand the pains of  workers and as such, it is important for both employers and employees to always reach a compromise on work hours, wage and salaries, insurance and other benefits for workers.
“The Nigerian labour laws must be periodically reviewed to accommodate new developments across the globe”.
While urging government at all levels to protect the interests of workers, Kalu tasked the labour force to increase productivity, noting that only a vibrant labour force will take Nigeria to its desired level.
The former governor wished workers a hitch free and rewarding celebration.