Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just-concluded general election, Atiku Abubakar, has described workers unions in Nigeria as critical partners in the economic development of the nation. He and the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, extolled the virtues of the Nigerian workers and their contribution to national development.
Abubakar said this in a goodwill message for workers day, personally signed by him on Monday in Abuja.
“The labour and sweat of Nigerian workers constitute the engine and lubricants of our economic growth and national development,” he said.
He eulogised the various labour unions in the country for being dependable watchdogs that served the interest of the Nigerian people.
“Over the years, the various labour unions in Nigeria have played pivotal intermediary role between the government and the people and the most recent of which is the agitation for increased minimum wage of N30,000.
“I congratulate the labour unions in Nigeria for this feat and I believe that with the same kind of determination, it is possible to further improve the lots of the Nigerian worker.
“With the efforts and creative energies of Nigerian workers, I believe that it is very possible to create economic buoyancy in Nigeria and redefine our destiny in the world as a centre of prosperity and refuse to be the capital of the world’s poor people,” he said.
Abubakar urged the organised labour under their various professional unions to embrace the paths of peace, harmony and national unity in all their engagements with employers of labour and governments at all levels.
The former Vice President congratulated Nigerian workers on this year’s Workers Day.
“I want to join several other well-wishers to celebrate with Nigerian workers on today’s Workers Day and also to assure the labour unions of an acknowledgement of their great sacrifices for the country,” he said.
In similar vein, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has lauded Nigerians workers for their contribution to socio-economic development of the country, in spite of some economic realities.
Saraki in a goodwill message to mark the 2019 Workers’ Day celebration, also commended the leadership and members of the organised labour for their patriotism in mostly choosing dialogue over industrial action in resolving trade disputes.
He expressed hope that workers would be encouraged to always put in their best to uplift and sustain the nation’s economy, “in view of the recent signing into law of a new minimum wage of N30,000.
“No nation can develop without a virile and agile workforce.
“It is trite to say that workers are the mainstay of our nation’s economy, since no policy of government, no matter how remote, will succeed without the commitment and collaboration of workers saddled with implementation.
“Having interacted with Nigerian workers and their leadership times without number, I can say without fear of contradiction that the nation’s workforce is among the best in the continent.
“All that is left is to adequately harness their abundant talents and spirit of patriotism to further improve on the nation’s economic and political development through timely and adequate motivation, training and retraining,” he said.