From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, has vowed to prioritize the welfare of workers and equip them appropriately within available resources, saying that a committed and motivated workforce is critical to the achievement of the Rural Transformation Agenda in the State.
He asserted this in his speech during the Worker’s Day Celebration held at the Murtala Muhammad Square in Kaduna, yesterday.
According to the Governor, the history of Nigeria’s economic development cannot be written without mentioning the pivotal contributions of workers to wealth creation, which is why the State is calling for more investment to create more job opportunities for the people.
He opined that the theme of this year’s celebration, “People First” is apt. Development is about the people as Governance is about its people, and added that the people must, at all times, be the center of development.
Governor Sani also pledged to give robust attention to the area of Human capital development and poverty reduction through investment in education, health, agriculture, housing, and micro, small, and medium enterprises.
He, however, called on all workers in the State to cooperate with the government and to remain committed to their duties to Increase productivity and sustain industrial harmony in the State and Nation.
“Today we honor your invaluable contributions to the struggle for Nigeria’s independence, the growth and development of our democracy, and better living conditions for Nigerian workers. The history of the development of Nigeria’s economy cannot be written without the mention of the pivotal contributions of workers to wealth creation.
“As the venerable Nelson Mandela (of blessed memory) rightly observed, May Day celebrations are always emotive occasions, because while we celebrate the sacrifices of the working people to make the world a better place to live in, we are also reminded of our failure to put in place a more caring and humane society due to the inequitable global political and economic systems.
“The theme of this year’s celebration, “People First” is apt. Development is about the people. Governance is about the people. The people must, at all times, be the center of development. The government exists to cater to the security and welfare of the people. If we remove the people from our calculations, the government loses legitimacy and creates conditions for instability.
“For me as Governor of Kaduna State, this year’s May Day is of great significance for two reasons. This is the first May Day Celebration since I became the Governor of Kaduna State. Secondly, the State enjoyed industrial harmony throughout the year. I therefore salute you, the trade union leaders and members for your patriotism and understanding of the State’s precarious fiscal situation.
“We have forged a strategic partnership with the Labour Unions to advance the interests of workers and improve the living conditions of the poor, vulnerable, and underserved in Kaduna State. The Labour Unions have participated in all our committees on the distribution of palliatives.”
