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Nigerian Workers Celebrate May Day with Demands and Appreciations

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Nigerian workers celebrated International Workers' Day yesterday, with various states and leaders acknowledging their contributions to the country's development. Governors from different states, labour leaders, and human rights activists spoke at rallies and events across the nation, highlighting the importance of workers' welfare and the need for good governance.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, disclosed that his administration has disbursed over N1.8 billion as car and housing loans to civil servants, local government staff, and teachers in the last four years.
  • Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, approved N40,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the state, making it the first state to take this initiative since the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, called on civil servants and their counterparts to get organised with other pro-labour and human rights forces to contest political power with members of the ruling class.
  • Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, said his administration has paid N8.4 billion out of the N14.4 billion owed the state workers from May 2019 to March 2022.
  • The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lauded Nigerian Workers for their patriotism, patience, and determination towards nation-building, despite the challenges posed by the APC-led administration.
  • Lagos State workers unanimously endorsed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for a second term in office.
  • INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, assured workers that the commission would spare no effort in ensuring that elections conducted by the commission continue to get better, freer, fairer, more credible, and more inclusive.
  • Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, approved additional N200 million for the payment of pensioners' gratuity for the month of May.
  • Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, expended N70.99 billion on the payment of pension and gratuities to state and local government retirees between 2015 to August 2018.
  • Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Yahaya Inuwa, assured workers that his administration would continue to sustain and deepen the existing friendly working environment and industrial harmony in the state.
  • The peoples alternative political movement (TPAP-M) commended the leadership of the trade union federations (the NLC and TUC) for the theme of this year's Commemoration: "Labour, Politics, and the Quest for Good Governance and Development".
  • FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, assured residents of the FCT and workers of the resumption of the Abuja Light Rail operations that was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statistics:

  • Ekiti State has disbursed over N1.8 billion as car and housing loans to civil servants, local government staff, and teachers in the last four years.
  • Edo State has approved N40,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the state.
  • Ogun State has paid N8.4 billion out of the N14.4 billion owed the state workers from May 2019 to March 2022.
  • Bayelsa State has approved additional N200 million for the payment of pensioners' gratuity for the month of May.
  • Katsina State has expended N70.99 billion on the payment of pension and gratuities to state and local government retirees between 2015 to August 2018.
  • Lassa fever reported in Nigeria: Total of 335 cases and 119 deaths have been reported, Source: World Health Organization (2022)

Sources:

  • Punch Newspaper, "Ekiti disburses N1.8bn car, housing loans to workers" (May 1, 2022)
  • Vanguard Newspaper, "Obaseki increases minimum wage to N40,000" (May 1, 2022)
  • The Nation Newspaper, "Falana calls for mass registration of Labour Party" (May 1, 2022)
  • The Guardian Newspaper, "APC government insensitive to workers' welfare – PDP" (May 1, 2022)
  • Premium Times Newspaper, "Abiodun: How we're paying deductions, loans to Ogun workers" (May 1, 2022)
  • This Day Newspaper, "Diri approves N400 million for Bayelsa retirees' gratuity" (May 1, 2022)
  • Leadership Newspaper, "Masari donates N10m to NLC over secretariat completion" (May 1, 2022)
  • News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), "INEC assures workers of inclusive, transparent election" (May 1, 2022)
  • PUNCH Newspapers, "Obaseki approves N40,000 as new minimum wage for Edo workers" (May 1, 2022)

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