By Inyali Peter, Calabar
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba a well as the National Vice Chairman, South South of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ntufam Hilliard Etta have lauded the patriotic sacrifices and unbroken faith in our nation Nigeria by workers across the country even in the face of tough times.
In a statement released by his Special Assistant, Communication to commemorate Workers’ Day, the NDDC Chairman said “undoubtedly, workers the world over, are the greatest assets of every nation because, the human capital is the bedrock upon which development revolves and thrives”.
He expressed concerns about the ‘ purchasing power of workers which might naturally affect their morale, but urged the workers to remain steadfast and never lose hope emphasising that the current economic realities was a necessary phase in the nation’s steady march towards a truly egalitarian society, to which the APC Government under President Muhammdu Buhari remains dedicated.
Ndoma-Egba praised the indomitable spirit of Nigerian workers,sacrifices and resilience in the face of challenges as he urged Governments at all levels to vigorously pursue job creation, stressing that unemployment breeds unpleasant consequences.
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In his part, Eta, in a statement released by his Spokesman, Bassey Ita noted that workers have displayed great concern for the sustainable development of the polity by identifying with the change agenda of the APC led Federal Government.
Eta also said as critical stakeholders in the nation’s growth and development, Nigerian workers are an endangered species who deserve to be understood, appreciated and given the leeway to make reasonable input in nation building.
He emphasized that the change agenda has revealed much of the sincerity of the present leadership of the country to make life meaningful.
According to him, ‘it is this sincerity of purpose that has created the sustained confidence and relationship between the government and the labour force which has been seen in the manifest stability in the governance process.
”The days of needless industrial actions orchestrated by failure to meet the demands of the workforce are gone with the wind. The change mantra of our present government promises sincerity of purpose which has been the driver of a stable polity in the country today.
”We at the South South Zone of the party must commend our workers for demonstrating the understanding and concern for change and progress through their endurance and patience in the face of the biting recession. Their ability to accept dialogue as a tool for bargaining in place of needless strike must also not go unnoticed and unappreciated. ”
He also commended the federal government for making workers welfare a matter of serious concern saying that the release of bailout funds for salary payment and other entitlements lend credence to the sincerity of the APC government to fix all sides of the economy.
The APC Chieftain implored the organised labour to continue to make critical inputs that improve the living conditions of workers in particular and the masses in general.
He urged State Governors to emulate the goodwill and priority accorded the workers through training, prompt payment of all salary arrears and entitlements adding that ” a healthy and wealthy workforce accounts for a greater percentage of a productive and stable polity ”.