By ANDREW UTULU
The Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Prince Adewale Adeyanju has commended Nigerian workers as the Country joined other countries of the world to mark this year’s Workers Day.
While eulogizing them for their steadfastness and courage during the celebration in Abuja, the erstwhile Maritime Workers’ Union (MWUN) President -General appreciated the Workers for the love of the country, and sincere attitude towards labour across all sectors, especially in the Maritime sector – his immediate constituency.
He commended the Maritime industry heavyweights for sustaining their tempo in the sector; noting that 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 is also the President of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) 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 would be in the berthed vessels checking what goes out, while taking proper records of goods and containers discharged as this exercise will give proper records of monies accrued to the government to save the country earnings from pilferage, which of course had continued to deplet the nation’s economy with ignominy.
The frontline labour leader used the occasion to celebrate the Nigerian Workers, saying that the government is not unaware of the hardship in the country.
He noted, 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 had been completed for years running; yet, the government has not been able to pay these elderly retirees, warning that it’s not until death takes them all before their entitled wages and pensions would come.
Adeyanju decried the poor situation of the retirees and appealed to the government to see reasons to settle these set of octogenarians.
He thanked all the workers generally as he wished them all a Happy Labour Day.
