Lagos
State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday allayed fears that plans by his
administration to phase out the yellow commercial buses, popularly known as Danfo
would lead to massive job losses, saying that it would instead create more jobs
in the transportation sector.
The
Governor, who spoke at the May Day Rally held at the Agege Stadium to
commemorate the 2017 Workers Day Celebration, said the Bus Reform Initiative, aimed
at introducing over 5000 air-conditioned buses to replace the Danfo buses would
open new vista of opportunities, while also redefining the means of road
transportation in the State.
Responding
to the fears raised by the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos
Council, Comrade Idowu Adelakun and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart,
Comrade Francis Ogunremi on the implications of the initiative to drivers,
conductors, mechanics and other artisans, Governor Ambode assured that it would
benefit all Lagosians on the long run.
He
said: “If Lagos is to be globally competitive, we need to change the outlook of
the way the city runs. What is of paramount interest to this government is to
make sure that every Lagosian has a comfortable means of moving from one point
to the other. But I promise you there will be no job losses.
“The
Governor is not interested in driving all the new buses. It is the same bus
drivers, the technicians, the mechanics that will also still be employed and
trained to use these new buses. Instead of job losses, we are going to employ
more people for the greater number of the buses and it will make the city more
beautiful and more comfortable for all our workers.”
Governor
Ambode, who also addressed the request of the labour leaders on workers’
welfare, assured that as the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)
continues to increase, his administration would work out modalities to improve
the welfare of workers in line with his mantra of all-inclusive governance.
The
Governor said that his administration was ready to look into the plight of
pensioners as regards the pace of paying pension, assuring that the process
would be fast tracked immediately.
“Just
like we have said, we have provided vehicles for the unions but again it has
not gone round and it has also not gone round to the private sector unions, we
will complete the whole scheme before the end of the year,” he said.
The
Governor said as part of the celebration of 50 years of the State, his
administration would provide a befitting State Secretariat for the NLC, while
government would also work on local and international training for labour
leaders to make them relevant to the growth of the economy.
Governor
Ambode also assured that the officers of the State Public Service, who
according to him, are the real drivers of the development in the State, would
continue to be equipped with the necessary competencies and skills in order to deliver
effective and efficient service to the people.
Commending
the choice of this year’s May Day celebration themed, “Labour Relations in
Economic Recession: An Appraisal,” the Governor said the leadership of Labour
unions had demonstrated a responsible sense of stakeholding in the joint
enterprise to improve the society and leave lasting legacies for the
generations to come through the creation of sustainable wealth and value.
Besides,
the Governor enjoined the organised labour to continue to show understanding,
while rightly insisting on the due and just entitlements of their members,
saying that any industrial unrest will compound the challenges of economic
recession.
“I
wish to commend the example of Lagos State to the entire nation in respect of
industrial harmony. In Lagos State, both the government and organised labour
believe that negotiations are more democratic and effective than unilateral
impositions by the government or unilateral demands by the workers,” he said.
While
alluding to the fact that his administration would not have been able to
fulfill the electoral promises without the support of the “most versatile,
resilient and innovative Public Service in the nation”, he noted that the
immense contributions of all workers in the private sector was also chiefly
responsible for the pride of place that Lagos occupies in our nation, in Africa
and in the world at large.
Earlier,
Comrades Adelakun and Ogunremi commended Governor Ambode for his commitment to
workers’ welfare and the determination with which he had been transforming the
State, describing the Governor as an accomplished accounting professional,
creative intellectual, skilled planner and focused implementor.
The
May Day Rally featured March pasts from various Labour Unions, Trade
Organisations and its Affiliates who trooped out enmasse despite the heavy
downpour and were excited to see the Governor celebrate the day with them.
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Politics