Workers Day: Gov. Abubakar urges dialogue in resolving disputes

The governor who made this appeal in an address during the celebration of workers’ day, appreciated the state chapter of the Organised Labour for maintaining good rapport with the state government.

Governor Abubakar appealed to the Nigerian Labour Congress and workers to ensure that the rapport and cooperation continued in the interest of the state, while his administration strives to serve the people in the face of paucity of resources.

He lamented that nearly 16 billion naira was handed over to his administration as outstanding gratuity when he assumed office in 2015, saying that measures had to be put in place that ensured the stabilization of salaries and prompt payment of pension while cutting down all unnecessary expenditure.

“Through these measures we have succeeded in entrenching accountability and transparency which are the hallmark of good governance,” the governor stressed.

“When after payment of the Paris Club repayment by the Federal government and payment of outstanding salaries I set aside money to commence repayment of those gratuities, a whooping figure of 26.3 billion naira was given to me,” the governor revealed.

Governor Abubakar says workers’ day presents an opportunity for workers in the public and private sectors to unite and reiterate their commitment to their employers with assurance of participating in the crusade against corruption, indolence and all other vices, with a view to charting out a new course.

The governor said the challenge of workers now is to emulate the good virtues of the civil service and return to the “good old days where discipline was the order of the day and issues of concern between employers and their employees were discussed and resolved amicably” without workers resorting to industrial action.

The governor added that industrial action is inimical to the development of the country as valuable man hours are lost which translates to loss of millions of naira.