Sanwo-Olu releases names of Lagos COVID-19 response donors, doubles life insurance for health workers

In line with his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in governance, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, released the names of individuals and corporate organisations that donated to the State Government towards the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic.
 
The donations, which are in cash and materials such as hospital items, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), Ambulances, respirators, isolation facilities and food items to support the vulnerable and the needy during the period of lockdown were acknowledged by the Governor in a widely circulated advertisement published in some major national newspapers.
 
Recall that Sanwo-Olu said during his last televised update on covid-19 that the government would release the names of all the donors so that Lagosians would know who they are and what they have done to support the fight against the virus.
 
He also said that it would not be out of place for government to name the public spirited individuals and corporate bodies for recognition and appreciation for their show of love and magnanimity.
 
The Governor said: ‘‘let me specially thank everyone who has donated to the Lagos State Covid-19 response, by way of cash, medical equipment and other essential materials. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. From Friday, May 1st, the Lagos State Government will be acknowledging all of you, our worthy partners, in newspaper advertisements that will outline all that we have received, in the spirit of full transparency and accountability.’’
 
There are a total of two hundred and one donors as advertised in the newspapers.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere was sombre on Friday at the State House in Marina, where the Lagos State Government and leaders of organised labour unions held a low-key event to commemorate the 2020 Workers’ Day.
Sanwo-Olu used the opportunity of the May Day anniversary to appreciate front-line health and emergency workers, whom he described as heroes, for sacrificing their personal well-being for the efforts at combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Governor said the commemoration of Workers’ Day should be a reminder to stakeholders that the concept of development must be far-reaching and inclusive for it to benefit the society in general.
Describing the labour force as “a critical stakeholder” in good governance and “engine-room” of the economic growth, Sanwo-Olu said his administration, since inception, had prioritised payment of new minimum wage to workers as a demonstration of his Government’s commitment to improving their welfare.
He also said his administration had continued to assist families of workers who die in the line of duty, adding that the State had not relented, despite COVID-19 pandemic, in paying 418 pensioners for their pension bond arrears.
He said: “It is only fitting that I dedicate this year’s commemoration of the Workers’ Day to celebrating the true heroes of this season, which are the health workers on the front-line of the battle against Covid-19. Since this virus started to ravage our communities and disrupt our lives, these heroes have not just been going to work daily, they have been going to war daily against this unseen enemy.
“Workers across public and private sectors, who are represented by various Labour Unions, are the engine-rooms of our economy, and the nucleus of wealth generation. My administration will always seek harmonious relationship with workers for the progress and prosperity of our State. The prompt approval and payment of the new minimum wage is a proof that we care about the welfare of our workforce.”
With effect from last January, Sanwo-Olu said his administration had increased the employers’ contribution to employees’ Retirement Savings Account (RSA) from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent. This, he said, complemented employees’ contribution of 8 per cent, bringing it to a total of monthly contribution of 18 per cent.
Sanwo-Olu said his administration had also approved the monthly release of a pension bail-out fund to the tune of N1.083 billion.
He also disclosed that the State Government had procured additional life and health insurance for all front-line health workers to cater for the hazard they face in the ongoing battle against coronavirus, bringing it to two-level protection. This is in addition to the approval of increment in the hazard allowance of front-line emergency workers.
He said: “I should also mention that we have put in place additional health and life insurance for all our front-line health workers in the state to ensure that they are adequately insured. This gives them insurance protection on two levels.
“As part of the ongoing efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Lagos, we approved a 400 per cent increment in the Hazard Allowance of Health Officers in the State for the month of April. We have also introduced a COVID-19 Allowance for all our front line workers, which is a very generous amount that takes cognizance of the heightened risks of the jobs they have to do. All these are intended to appreciate the dedication of all our health officers in the fight against COVID-19.”
He reiterated his commitment to workers’ welfare, stressing that his Government had expanded the opportunity of training and capacity building for the Lagos workforce.
Sanwo-Olu said there was nothing that better amplified his Government’s devotion to the growth of the workforce than the launch of a knowledge-sharing platform tagged: “A Disruptive S.H.i.F.T”, which rewarded an outstanding public servant, Seun Ogunmola, with accelerated promotion from Grade Level 08 to 10.
He said the initiative reflected his administration’s resolve to harness the creativity and innovativeness of public servants to positively change the face of the State’s Public Service, with a view to achieving the vision of making Lagos a 21st century economy.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) chairman in Lagos, Comrade Agnes Sessi, said despite the ravaging pandemic, the contribution of workers to the development of the State could not be undermined.
She prayed for all emergency and health workers on the front-line, stressing that the ravaging virus had affected many workers in all spheres.
She praised the Governor for the increment of hazards allowance from 5,000 to 25,000 for health workers, saying the gesture would truly serve as motivation for the front-line workers.
Her Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Gbenga Ekundayo, hailed the Governor for upward review of salaries and allowances for workers.