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Workers Day: Fashola Urges Adoption Of Alternative Strategy To Strike
…Joins workers at commemoration in Lagos

May 1, 2010 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Saturday urged Nigerian workers to consider a change of strategy from the use of strike as a means of seeking improved welfare.

Governor Fashola who spoke while addressing workers at the 2010 Workers Day commemoration with the theme: “Fifty Years of Nationhood and the Nigerian Working Class: Challenges of Good Governance, Unity and Credible Election” held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere, noted that before independence, early labour leaders saw themselves as enemies of the colonialists whom strike was used to fight.

He said almost fifty years after the Europeans left, there is a need to consider a change from the same method of agitating then still being adopted now that the country has gained independence and the situation has changed completely.

Governor Fashola who said he wanted to use the occasion of the 2010 Workers Day celebration to provoke some thinking on the part of everyone, also asked if repeated strike have succeeded in achieving desired results.

“Therefore I want us to examine the issue of strikes as a tool for achieving demands. Has it all been resolved at all times. Every time we come to a labour rally, after the rally what happens next. How do we give implementation to the critical issues that you raised every year”, Governor Fashola asked.

He suggested that the leadership of the labour unions should go back to the drawing board, change its style and suggested the adoption of the week leading to the labour day, as the labour week during which topical issues of the time like wages, power, petroleum industry bill can be discussed, adding that such issues cannot be resolved by strike.

“The issues can only be resolved if we sit down with our government and say look government this is the argument for a better tomorrow , not that one that you are pursuing, that cannot be achieved through a strike. We wanted the colonial masters to go but we wanted the present government to resolve problems. We cannot use the same medicine for two different ailments”, the Governor said.

He said as an example, the Lagos Sate Government in the last three years has used the Economic Summit also known as Ehingbeti to identify articulated goals which needs to be attained, adding that at the 2008 summit, 37 issues were raised for government to implement, while the report card presented at the 2010 Summit showed that 34 out of the resolutions have been implemented with four still on-going

He urged labour unions to go along the line to achieve its needs by working and dialoguing with government, adding that the notion that only the government has all the solution is not right.

Governor Fashola said each time workers embark on strike, the efficient operation of the government is disrupted thus inhibiting any attempt by the government to achieve the aims for the populace.

The Governor explained that having once been an employee and therefore knowing where the shoe pinches before he became a Governor, he understands some of the welfarist points being canvassed by the workers.

He said wage increase is not the solution because despite many instances of wage increases in the past, the purchasing power of workers keep dwindling, asking why efforts cannot be made to attack the root cause of the dwindling purchasing power from another perspective.

Governor Fashola suggested that the government should consider building more rails as Lagos is trying to do and get more BRT all over the country as Lagos has done or ensure that there is constant electricity which will have an effect on what even an average barber charges customers or even make housing more affordable.

He said the State would soon be unfolding the next chapter of its housing mortgage scheme which would afford more people access to the scheme.

He explained that the State Government is building the roads like Funsho Williams Avenue because it is the central nerve for commuting from Agbado, Ikorodu to Maryland and the offices where millions earn their livelihood on the Island and the Central Business District, adding that the longer it takes to get to work the more expensive it becomes for the workers who commute on the roads daily.

He said government is also mindful of evolving strategies for reducing the cost of living and thereby improving the purchasing power of the workers noting that government should ensure that the value of the workers salary is not eroded.

“We are also working to mitigate the cost of purchasing food, because I am told that if we can eliminate issues of unauthorized levies the prices of some foodstuffs will come down drastically”, he added.

He said with the collaboration of every worker, what has been regarded as Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) like free healthcare and free education should be Minimum Development Goals which every government should aspire to, adding that with the use of strike only as a weapon of last resort where everything else has failed this should be possible.

Earlier in his address, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Michael Alogba Olukoya said with the rapid pace of Governmental activities in Lagos State as engendered by the present administration, the rate of infrastructural growth, environmental beautification, road construction, improved medical facilities, qualitative and free education, security of life and property, social and political stability is pronounced.

He said Governor Babatunde Fashola is obviously doing well because the morning shows the day and while some states are still on the service lane, the Governor is on the express lane on full throttle, making a mark in every Lagos home and impacting on every citizen and resident.

Comrade Alogba said as the 2011 elections approaches, everyone must be determined to defend their votes and be more involved in the array of diplomatic games in the choice of who become the President, Governor and lawmaker.

In his address, the Chairman of the State Council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Akeem Kazeem commended the efforts of the State Government in inaugurating the board of the State Pension Commission, describing it as a step in the right direction.

He advised the Governor not to be distracted but to continue the strides to transform the face of Lagos as a truly cosmopolitan megacity.

In his goodwill message, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Chukwuemeka Nwogu who was represented by the State Controller of labour matters, Alhaja Nafisat Arogundade urged all workers to use the period of the Workers Day to reflect on some of the challenges which Nigeria is facing as a nation, adding that the nation will become great if all hands are on deck.

He also commended the high sense of sacrifice, patriotism, diligence and perseverance which all Nigerian workers are demonstrating, stressing that the productive of the workforce is crucial to the growth of the nation.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr Jide Sanwo- Olu urged all workers to work hard to ensure a rapid development of the country and thus bringing about a vibrant economy that will make the Vision 2020 realizable.

He described the workers as the greatest assets that the State can boast of because they constitute the source and means of moving the State forward; stressing that it is their immeasurable contributions that have made the State a source of pride to everyone.

He commended the trade unions in the State for always toeing the path of dialogue at all times when there are issues to be resolved.

The event which was attended by some members of the State Executive Council like the Head of Service, Alhaji Yakub Balogun and some Permanent Secretaries also featured march past by many affiliate unions of the TUC and NLC like Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Radio Television, Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU), National Union of Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW), National Union of Banks Insurance and Financial Institution Employees (NUBIFIE), Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN),Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and National Union of Local Government Employees among several other unions and organizations while Governor Fashola waved and acknowledged cheers from the marching workers.