May Day: Alia hails Benue workers, vows to improve their welfare

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of workers.

He stated this on Friday on the occasion of the workers’ day celebration held at the IBB Square, Makurdi.

The governor, who was represented at the occasion by the deputy governor, Sam Ode, saluted the courage, patience, and commitment of workers across the country.

He noted that no nation could thrive without a productive and committed workforce.

“It is on this note that | salute the courage, patience, and unwavering commitment of workers across Benue, in both the public and private sectors.

“From our teachers moulding the future of our children, to our healthcare workers saving lives under challenging conditions; from our farmers who sustain our food security, to our civil servants who ensure the machinery of government runs smoothly. Each of you plays a critical role in building the Benue of our dreams, Alia said.

The governor described May Day as another opportunity for the people to reflect on how far they have come, the challenges, and the shared responsibility in building a prosperous state.

Alia, who used the occasion to highlight his achievements in the past three years, assured the people of the state that his administration would continue to make progress in all spheres of life as well as intensify efforts at tackling the security challenges confronting the state.

He said, “We are very much aware that we are not where we want to be yet. Our aspirations are tall; our vision is clear; our determination in stimulating economic expansion and diversification is unwavering; and our knowledge of the challenges you face as workers is undiluted.

“While we keep making progress, insecurity stares us in the face; our detractors, who do not mean well for the state, do everything and anything possible to pull us down.

In his speech, the state chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Terungwa Igbe, applauded the state governor for what he described as ‘his laudable labour-friendly policies and programmes, however appealed to the governor to clear the balance of two months of salary arrears owed to state workers.

The labour leader also called for the conversion/granting of permanent and pensionable appointments to thousands of casual workers in government offices and establishments in the state.