As Nigerian workers in both public and organised private sectors celebrate today, 1st of May, 2025 , kogi state workers have lamented at the absence of government subsidised transport services to mitigate the ever increasing transport fares charged by private operators, which has consistently impoverished workers and their families in the state.
This is as the organised labour has decried the acute water shortage in Lokoja and major cities of the state and called on Government to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the multi billion naira Greater Lokoja Water works to save the citizenry from untold water borne diseases.
This was contained in a message delivered by the chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress , NLC, kogi state chapter, Comrade Gabriel Amari at the Muhammadu Buhari Square in Lokoja venue of the commemoration of 2025 workers Day.
The chairman noted that, though, kogi state government was apt in the implementation of the minimum wage, the gains have been wiped out by non existent public transportation buses that will cushion the uninterrupted hikes by the private sector operators.
He said the plight of Kogi State workers and their families resident in Lokoja is better imagined than experienced during market days and rush hours of going to work in the morning and returning from work has been a serious concern to his members.
The Labour leader kicked against the policy of successive administrations in the state, that pride in not paying gratuity enblock to retiring workers, rather chose to defray in peace meal which has denied most pensioners of the benefits of their sweat with attendant toll on social, economic and well being of members.
He added that at the last count, pensioners are being owned billions of naira , as many of them have no homes , children driven from schools and some lost their lives while waiting for the elusive gratuity.
He called on government to avert the Pensioners losing faith in view of their plight having dedicated the greater part of their youthful years towards the development of the State with nothing to fall back to after retirement, saying , it has subliminal messages for those still in service.
While acknowledging the role private schools played to fill the gap of educating children and wards, they should not be left to the vagaries of market forces, stressing that their actions have negative effect on the purse of workers, urging for prompt regulations to bring them in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, of the present administration.
On the ban on Union activities in the state own tertiary institutions, Amari has this to say” we are once again compelled beyond circumstances to draw your attention to the prolong Ban on Union activities in the Kogi State Tertiary Institutions, this action to a reasonable extent has placed a snag on the robust industrial relations between the State government and the Organised Labour in the State with perceived misconception that has lingered way before your assumption of office as the executive Governor of Kogi State.
” Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the affairs of Primary Health Workers with regards to recruitment, promotion, deployment, payment of salaries, disciplinary measures and lots more as enshrined in the enabling act establishing it.
“However, we have observed with concern the partial implementation of the act establishing the State Primary Health Care development Agency (SPHCDA) where the nominal roll and auxiliary activities as it affects the administration of Primary Health Care Workers are-carried out by three different agencies and the payment of salaries and emoluments are still domiciled with the Local Government Councils.
“consequent upon the avoidable challenges being encountered by Primary Health Care Workers as often as the case might be. We humbly request for the consolidation of the activities of the State Primary Health Care development Agency (SPHCDA) where salaries and Emolument of Primary Health Care Workers are moved to the Agency to forestall further unnecessary bureaucratic bottle necks in the administration of the Agency” he appeal.
While saluting the courage and resilience of all Kogi State workers for being positive and keeping faith alive in the midst of prevailing harsh economic realities, urged them to continue to persevere in weathering the storm.
