By Francis Sadhere

The Delta State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), under the leadership of Comrade Williams Akporeha has called on the state Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to urgently give attention to the regular payment of pension as well as approve Thirteenth month salary to workers in the state.

Comrade Williams Akporeha

The factional Chairman of the Delta State NLC, Comrade Akporeha made this call  May Day in his speech at the 2016 Workers’ Day celebration in Warri.

The  Labour Leader who noted that a lot of pensioners who served their fatherland meritoriously are now suffering unduly as a result of delayed and irregular payment of pensions and retirement benefits.

According to him, “Congress wish to appeal to you to consider the plight of retirees as top priority at all times”, adding that “it is also possible with your intervention to ensure that pensions are paid as at when due even as effort is being made to clear pension backlog”.

On workers welfare,the State factional NLC Chairman, went philosophical to appeal to Governor Okowa to commence the payment of thirteenth month salary to the state workers. He said, ” just as there are expectations of higher productivity from workers to grow the state economy, there can be no limit to the deployment of additional motivation strategies for the state workforce”. ” Congress wish therefore to appeal you to revisit the issue of payment of thirteenth month salary to workers in the state which was already receiving attention by the previous government”.

Other issues presented to government for consideration include revamping of ailing industries in the state, a law to eradicate all forms of casualization of workers in the state as well as introduction of social security benefits to unemployed youths.

Comrade Akporeha also disclosed that Congress had earlier held a rally around the twin cities of Warri and Effurun as  part of the unique feature of this year’s celebration which was deliberately designed by Congress to give the masses a sense of belonging and to assure them that Labour movement belongs to the people.

This year’s workers day celebration with the theme;  Inclusive Socio-Economic Space for Sustainable Development attracted attendance from various NGO’s, Civil Society Organisations, Traders Association, Market Woman amongst others.