The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC and Trade Union Congress, Ekiti State Chapter, Comrade Kolapo Olatunde and
Comrade Sola Adigun have commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for implementing the new minimum wage and prioritizing workers welfare.
The duo disclosed this during the press conference organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, held at the NLC Secretariat, Ado-Ekiti, the State capital with the theme: “Reclaiming The Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship”.
The labour leaders reflected that though the governor had done well but urged him to further help the workers, considering the high rate of inflation that has drastically made the minimum wage useless .
While urging Ekiti state workers to troop out in their large numbers to celebrate their existence and the giant strides of the governor to the workers, especially,implementation of the seventy thousand naira minimum wage and other interventions. They opined that the essence of ‘May Day is to celebrate themselves, saying, it’s only the living that can celebrate.
Comrade Kolapo, specifically commended Governor Oyebanji for recalling the disengaged staff of the State House of Assembly as well as the consistent and regular payment of workers salaries.
While urging the Governor to also look into the remaining disengaged staff of the Ekiti State University EKSU, he noted that some have been recalled as he pleaded with the Governor and the University Management to ensure that every irregularity is regularised if there’s any to enable them reinstated.
Comrade Kolapo Olatunde who said that Governor Oyebanji has increased the subvention of some institutions which according to him is beautiful, laudable and unprecedented, also urged the private sectors to buckle their belts and prioritize their workers welfare.
On his part, the TUC Chairman in Ekiti, Comrade Sola Adigun, explained that the present economic hardship has eroded the value of the new minimum age.
“This year, as we are thanking God for witnessing another May Day, as we are remembering our heroes past and their labour, we need to also address the issue of our economic hardship. We need to call the attention of the government that the right for us to gather at any time to express our joy, express our grievances in the form of protest should not be denied.
Buttressing the theme of this year’s May Day, Adigun maintained that the theme is challenging the workers, Nigerians and critical stakeholders that while fighting for their democratic values, they are also fighting and agitating for their rights.
“One of the rights we need to religiously and holistically stand for is this Civic Space where workers and ordinary citizens would have freedom of expression, where freedom of association with any group can be exhibited as long as they are not illegal”, said he.
The TUC Chairman said, aside insecurity, that the economic hardship that is biting hard on every worker and Nigerians as a whole has also stood against the Civic Space for workers and citizens.
Earlier in his remark, the 2025 May Day Committee Chairman, Comrade Femi Ajoloko, has pointed out that the day was set aside for celebration of workers’ efforts across the world, and also to present some of their agitations to the authorities.
According to him, the day is being celebrated in over eighty countries in the world. He described both the NLC and TUC as the two militant groups that usually forced the government to ensure that the well-being of workers are prioritised.
All workers in the State are therefore advised to converge at Ekiti Parapo Pavilion at new Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti at 10:00am prompt on Thursday being May 1st for the Workers Day Celebration.