The May Day celebration in Yobe State, north-east Nigeria was low-key as it was marked by press briefing instead of the usual ceremony by Labour and Trade Unions in the state.
To commemorate the day, the unions converged on the office of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) along Gashua Road in Damaturu the state capital, to address members on some of its activities over the years.
Briefing the media to mark the day, the State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Lawan Ibrahim, said that the occasion has been low-key for the past four years in the state because of the prevailing cases of insurgency bedeviling the north east zone of the country where the state is located.
He, however, called on the union members to partner with the NLC to fight for members’ entitlements such as leave grant, annual increment, and promotion of staff among others.
Mr Ibrahim decried the falling standard of the State Civil Service examinations and called for waiver of the exercise, saying it has not served the desired objective.
He also requested for the full implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage, payment of the outstanding gratuity by 33% as approved by the federal government in August 2010 among others.
The union leader also called for the upward review of 22% for the media and cultural workers as well as meeting the lingering demand of the judiciary staff union of Nigeria.
Purposeful Leadership Hinged On Transparency
In Ogun State, Governor Ibikunle Amosun has assured residents and people of the state of purposeful leadership hinged on transparency, accountability and probity in his mission to rebuild the socioeconomic development of the state in his second term in office.
He made the pledge in Abeokuta, the state capital while joining the state workforce in celebrating May Day at the Moshood Abiola stadium.
While assuring the workforce of better days ahead, the Governor challenged that all hands must be on deck, saying that workers must redouble their effort to ensure prompt service delivery.
Workers from the 20 Local Government Areas of the state, trade unions and labour congresses participated in the celebration.
