The Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade (Prince) Dr. Adewale Adeyanju has commended Nigerian workers, while eulogizing them for their steadfastness and courage during the Workers’ Day celebration in Abuja.
The erstwhile Maritme Workers’ Union (MWUN) President -General appreciated the Workers’ over their love for country, and sincere attitude towards labour across all sectors, especially in the Maritme sector – his immediate constituency.
He praised and thanked the Maritme industry heavyweights for sustaining their tempo in the sector; the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports, Authority (NPA), the MD of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the Director -General of Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), and the leadership of STOAN, amongst others, whose leadership and immense contributions to the sector cannot be overemphasized.
The Oyo Prince, who’s the President of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has urged the Federal Government to look into the recurring issue of returning the Onboard Gangway Men to vessels at the nation’s seaports as this will serve as panacea to accountability on the nation’s economy, stating that the “Onboard Gangway Men” as it were will be in the berthed vessels checkmating what goes out, while taking proper records of goods and containers discharged as this exercise will give proper records of monies acrued to the government to save the country earnings from pilfrage, which of course had continued to deplet the nation’s economy with ignominy.
The frontline labour chief used the occasion of the Labour Day to celebrate the Nigerian Workers, saying that the government is not unaware of the hardship in the country, however, that the federal government is still working out modalities to alleviate the living conditions of Nigerian workers, saying that the pride of any worker is his ability to fend for himself and his immediate family.
Comrade Adeyanju also admonished the government to look into the very poor working conditions of Nigerian workers, whose monthly wages and salaries are long overdue for increment. He further explained that the Nigerian Workers deserve a better wage and not a “Monkey” take-home at the end of every month.
He added by reiterating that the happiness of any worker depends on how much he can live a good life, while productive at work; hence, Nigerian Workers deserve better than little.
Dr. Adeyanju gave kudos to all Nigerian workers, appreciating them for representing their conscience well while at work; promising them that their labour will be rewarded here on earth, while remembering the Federal Government of the old retirees of the defunct Nigeria Shipping Line (NSL), whose verification exercise has been completed for years running; yet, the government has not been able to pay these elderly retirees. It’s not until death takes them all before their legitimately entitled wages and pensions will come.
While decrying the poor situation of the retirees, he appealed to the government to see reasons to settle these septo and octogenarians reactively.
He thanked all the workers generally as he wished them all a Happy Labour Day.
