Press Releases

Fashola Charges Workers To Devise New Productive Means Of Settling Disputes

May 1, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Friday joined workers globally to mark May Day celebrations, charging them to be prepared to try new, but productive methods to resolve disputes, which are inevitable in any human undertaking.

Governor Fashola who gave a goodwill message at the Onikan Stadium Lagos where thousands of workers from different unions and associations took a march past noted that May Day 2009 was taking place at a time of global job losses and other excruciating experiences which the Lagos State Government has worked very hard to stave off.

He added that in Lagos, the government sees the labour crises in three broad contexts, with the first being efforts at getting or creating work for the unemployed, secondly, keeping those in employment at their jobs with satisfaction and thirdly, ensuring that those who have given their productive life remain catered for, during the rest of their natural life.

Governor Fashola explained that through its budgets, the state has focused on infrastructure renewal as the quickest way to create jobs firstly by directly providing jobs for construction companies and allied businesses and professionals, keeping their employees at work and providing through infrastructure delivery, an environment for private sector to invest and create jobs.

He said the buses on BRT, ferries from Ikorodu, jobs created directly by construction, supply of materials and so much more are examples of this strategic progress by the Government as well as investment which is coming into Lagos from outside the country in the form of the Lekki Concession while rail concession is already under consideration as are many real estate concession.

For young school leavers, Governor Fashola informed that the revived holiday job scheme has already employed at least 5000 children with another 5000 already approved for this year, adding that the state Micro finance Scheme has created over 9000 jobs in 2008 alone while the Skill acquisition centres have developed over 12, 000 new employers which is still continuing .

“In terms of keeping people at work, we declined the temptation to lay off workers even as wage bills are rising and we have even given dispensation for employment of more teachers, and other professionals in identified areas of need. And have also made salaries a first charge on our statutory incomes to ensure prompt payment of salaries”, Governor Fashola explained.

The Governor added: “We have kept our eyes on the welfare of retired workers by promptly remitting our contribution of 7.5% pension to ensure that the future of the workers are assured just as we have recently paid the outstanding pension of Local Government workers and teachers of about N5Billion”.

He added that there is however a lot more to be done and everyone has a role to play, stressing that progress will not be achieved in an environment of discord, strikes and lock out.

Said he: “The period of strikes, minutes, hours, days weeks and months are gone forever and lost , never to be recovered for productive use”.

While admitting that this are challenging times, he said they are also exciting times because “from these challenges, we see vast opportunities to make it better and I assure you that if it demands more than 100percent from us we will give it, in order to keep your hopes alive and achieve your dreams. We are driven by the spirit and belief that “the reward of good work is more work”.

Governor Fashola also said: “We appreciate that without you, it will not be possible and recognize that there is the need to establish the right and necessary humane working conditions for such a wealth to be created.

We only ask that you also understand that we are torn between many choices at the same time that are not easy to make. Security, education, water supply, healthcare, transportation and so on. I assure you that our choices take your interests into consideration appropriately at all times”.

Governor Fashola told the audience that as Lagosians rely on the government to deliver the goods, they also rely on the public servants to make it happen, adding that whether it is realized or not in this respect, each and every one becomes a leader in his or her own sphere of work.

“To succeed, everyone is duty bound to exhibit those leadership qualities of team work, hard work, dedication, selflessness and integrity. It is not sufficient to know the way and show the way for others. Our ability to succeed only comes from passion and not from mere position”, Governor Fashola emphasized.

He acknowledged the support and cooperation which have resulted in the prevailing industrial peace and harmony in the state, adding that their collective hardwork and dedication have contributed to higher productivity and maximum efficiency which have enhanced and accelerated progress.

In his words: “I am aware that the challenges ahead are enormous. But inspite of these, we need to get going right away. Our generation must painstakingly and carefully take big confident strides towards the goal of making Lagos the model mega city of our collective dream”.

He commended the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers for their method of registering displeasure about the development in their sector of the economy, informing that he has acted on the letter to him and sent it to Mr President.

While congratulating the newly elected national executive of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria on their successful and trouble free election, he said it is a good story for democracy that free and fair elections can be had within sections of Nigeria.

“It is a good story that workers accept to play by electoral rules and recognize that service is not a do or die affair. The season is right for this type of electoral maturity as we pursue electoral reforms

Let me again repeat that until we accept that elections are governed by rules, and that rules are meant to bind us, protect us and order our behaviours, then we will find free and fair elections elusive”, he reiterated.

The Governor insisted that violators of electoral rules must bear the full sanctions of their acts, adding that society encourages them by amending the rules every time elections fail, instead of punishing them .

The Lagos State helmsman also said the Ekiti Resident Electoral Commissioner has roles to play under the Electoral Act and must be allowed to discharge her roles without fetter but with the support of the State and security apparatus.

Speaking earlier, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Micheal Alogba described the physical presence of Governor Fashola at the rally as a sign of his identification with the struggle and which is rare in recent memory.

He added that the Governor has started very well because the morning shows the day, adding that while some States are still on the service lane, Governor Fashola is on the express lane, on full throttle making a mark in every Lagos home and impacting on every Lagos citizen and resident.

Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Mr Sulaimon Abubakar commended Governor Fashola for the good job he is doing all over, saying such selfless service is required nationwide to make Nigeria a truly great nation where accountability and good governance reigns.

He also charged Nigerian workers to be vocal until all traces of oppression are done with.

Also speaking the representative of the Minister of Labour who is also the Controller of Labour matters in Lagos, Mrs Nafisatu Arogundade said job creation is one the cardinal objectives of the Federal Government and has resulted in the creation of the National Employment Council.

She said patience, tolerance and better understanding are the virtues needed to ensure a rancour free industrial labour relation with the employers, adding the efforts are being intensified to ensure a passage of all labour related bills before the National Assembly.

The colourful event was witnessed by some members of the State Executive Council and drew participation from many labour unions across the state including the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), National Civil Service Union (NCSU),Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Workers, Association of Senior Civil Servants (ASCSN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).