Posted by By Susan Nwanganga Agwu on
Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday joined millions of workers the world over in marking May Day with an affirmation that the state is set to stimulate economic growth in a way that is unprecedented in the country.
Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday joined millions of workers the world over in marking May Day with an affirmation that the state is set to stimulate economic growth in a way that is unprecedented in the country.
The governor, who spoke at the Onikan Stadium, in Lagos where all affiliated unions, professional bodies and some corporate organizations took a march past, said the state would continue to explore and create new opportunities in partnership with the private sector to enable the greater number of the people work and earn a living with dignity.
'As some of our landmark initiatives take root, our administration is set to stimulate economic growth in way that is unprecedented in Nigeria 's history," he said.
Already, the governor said, Lagos is stimulating economic prosperity by creating thousands of new jobs through massive road construction, schools rehabilitation/construction, market redevelopment and construction.
Others, according to the governor, are beautification and greening of open spaces, clearance and construction of canals and drainages, as well as construction of jetties and dredging of water transportation.
He explained that the state mortgage scheme will empower large numbers of low and medium income workers through a 25 year payment arrangement at a maximum interest rate of 10 per cent with a first set of 395 public servants as beneficiaries of the scheme.
He reiterated that the policy is bound to have a multiplier effect in the construction, furniture, household appliances and other related sectors as new home owners furnish, equip and beautify their homes.
He also disclosed that the state government recently launched a N1Billion Pension Sinking Fund to sustain the contributory Pension Scheme as well as ensure the regular payments of Civil/Teaching Service Pension and gratuities, including the 142 % arrears in pension and 25 per cent pension increase respectively.
Governor Fashola added: 'In Lagos State, we are investing heavily in making qualitative education affordable to all our children, irrespective of their social status. We are building skill centres and providing micro finance to enable graduates start out on their own."
He said the theme of this year's celebration which is 'Making Nigeria Work for her People" is a reflection of the critical role of the worker in attaining our collective aspirations as a people.
The Governor acknowledged the role of the working class movement in the anti- colonial struggle that culminated in Nigeria 's emergence as a sovereign nation, with the labour always at the forefront of every struggle to checkmate dictatorship and expand the horizons of freedom, justice and human dignity in post independence Nigeria .
He expressed profound appreciation to all workers for cooperating with the present administration to achieve set goals for the collective good of the state and to area boys who listened to the message of change to take employment LAWMA and KAI.
The Governor however tasked the workers to do more for the benefits of all. 'Now is the time for all workers to renew commitment to working harder than ever to achieve higher of productivity for society's collective prosperity", he said.
Earlier in his solidarity message, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Hassan Lawal who was represented by the Controller of the Lagos office of the Ministry, Mrs Nofisat Arogundade condemned the gruesome murder of the State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW) Alhaji Saka Saula.
He disclosed that efforts were being intensified between his Ministry and the Lagos state government to ensure that the culprits were brought to book.
The Minister while commending the cordial relationship between his ministry and the state government and that between Lagos state and its workers implored government and workers to always employ dialogue rather than confrontation in the settlement of any industrial dispute.
The State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Micheal Alogba commended Governor Babatunde Fashola for starting very well with 'a revolutionary record of performance".
He identified the sterling performance to include the massive and cheap transportation network under the BRT arrangement, the Eko meat van, road construction, the security trust fund and the N40 billion mortgage schemes for home ownership for civil servants.
He also called for the reversal of the sale of the Nigeria Ports Authority stressing that its privatization procedure ``is opaque and cloudy to normal eyes. It did not undergo the acclaimed due process ''.
In his solidarity message, the State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Abubakar Sulaiman stressed that the care of workers must always take a prime of place in the scheme of things.
He added that the Government must ensure the attainment of an acceptable level of infrastructural development and implored all labour unions too always remain united.
In his address, the Commissioner for Establishment, Mr Jide Sanwo -Olu expressed delight at the unified May Day celebration in Lagos which is an indication of the unity that exists in the Labour movement in the State.
He also commended the unions for engaging in dialogue at all times with the state Government in resolving grey areas of disagreement.
The rally featured march past and display by all affiliate unions of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade union Congress (TUC).