By Bolanle Lawal

Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has pledged the commitment of his administration to prioritising workers’ welfare in the state.

The governor made the pledge on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, while speaking at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration.

Oyebanji said he had always made issues of workers’ welfare a top priority of his government, saying the tempo would continue throughout his tenure.

He commended the workers in the state for their support for his administration, saying their commitment to friendly dialogues had enabled his government to act promptly on issues.

The governor also promised to do all within his powers to continually restore the workers’ dignity and pride, through the provision of civil space in the state.

The State NLC Chairman, Kolapo Olatunde, while commending Oyebanji for running a worker-friendly administration, called for consolidated security architecture in order to protect life and property.

“The security situation in the country calls for sincere prayers, and consolidated security architecture that will bring turnaround approach that will bring positive results, in order to safeguard lives and property of hapless Nigerians.

“The persistent incidences of kidnapping, heart-wrenching killing of farmers by armed herdsmen and heartless killings in some parts of Benue and Plateau States are condemnable.

“We, therefore, call on the security apparatus in Nigeria and across the states of the federation to rise to this challenge and take decisive action that will stem the tide.

“This is our clarion call; our farmlands must be safe, our people must be able to go about their lawful businesses without fear; workers in Nigeria especially in the troubling areas should leave home for work and be sure of returning safely to their families,” he pleaded.

On his part, the State TUC Chairman, Sola Adigun, also expressed displeasure at the workers’ inability to hold political leaders accountable, “as a result of the threats targeted at civil space by certain leaders.”

Adigun noted that this infringement on civic freedom had further made workers vulnerable to attacks, while non-state actors, whose interests remained shadowy, interfere in workers’ struggles.

“Perhaps, even more worrying is the systematic shrinking of the civic space. Our right to organise, to protest peacefully, to speak without fear, and to hold our leaders accountable is increasingly under attack.

“Trade union activities are frequently disrupted by security agencies, while non-state actors-whose interests remain shadowy-interfere in workers’ struggles.

“And this assault on civic freedoms is happening precisely at a time when the voices of the people are needed more than ever to demand change.

“To reclaim the civic space in this era of economic hardship, we must act-strategically and courageously,” he stated. (NAN)(www.nannews.com)

Edited by Tayo Ikujuni