Isa Aremu, labour director, All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, says the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, will prioritise the welfare of workers, just like President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr Aremu stated this when he met with the leadership and members of the Plateau chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday in Jos.
“No doubt there are a lot of challenges facing this country, and we can’t deny it, but one thing we can say is that President Buhari is a labour-friendly president and the facts are there for everyone to see,” Mr Buhari said.
The director, who lauded Mr Buhari for being good and friendly to Nigerian workers, advised them to vote for someone who would continue with such a noble legacy.
He said this was evident during the recession and COVID-19 pandemic, as the president did not retrench the workforce.
“Every comrade respects employment, security of jobs, regular payment of salaries, a decent job, industrialisation, and human rights, among others. This government has made it obligatory to pay salaries as when due.
“The president gave bailout in three tranches to governors to pay salaries of their workers and also approved and implemented the N30,000 minimum wage,” he said.
Mr Aremu advanced that if voted, Mr Tinubu will not only continue with the legacies of the current administration in relation to workers’ welfare but introduce new ones that will better the lots of Nigerian workers.
He added that of the major political parties in the country, the APC remained the only one that had demonstrated the willingness to ensure the Nigerian worker doesn’t suffer.
“We strongly believe Tinubu will be the one to continue with the legacies of the current government in terms of addressing labour-related matters,” he said.
The director said that the Labour Party, a brainchild of the labour unions in the country, had deviated from its original plan, hence the need for an alternative one that would move the country forward.
“We are not here for flattery, and yes, we formed the Labour Party, and I even contested on its platform for the governorship of Kwara in 2019.
“But the Labour Party of today is not what we used to know; it has completely moved away from its original plan.
“As unionists, we can struggle, but we must go into government so that we can influence policies that will be of great benefit to workers,” he said.
Responding, Eugene Manji, NLC chairman in Plateau, thanked Mr Aremu and his team for the visit.
Mr Manji, who said that workers in the state were facing numerous challenges, added that the union would discuss their demands with the incoming government.
