Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has reaffirmed his administration’s determination to improve workers’ welfare, expand employment opportunities and address legitimate demands presented by labour unions as resources become available.
He also disclosed plans for fresh employment opportunities in the state, assuring that the process would be transparently organised and targeted at areas where manpower is needed — a move he said would further reinforce his administration’s commitment to reducing unemployment and strengthening service delivery.
The Governor made this known in Lokoja on Tuesday during the engagement with labour leadership where he presented three buses to organised labour unions in Kogi State as part of efforts to strengthen workers’ welfare and enhance the operational capacity of labour organisations. He charged the unions on the effective utilisation of the vehicles.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to inclusive, people-oriented governance, with interventions across critical sectors of the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Comrade Onuh Edoka, described the engagement as another demonstration of Governor Ododo’s inclusive leadership. He listed several interventions already recorded under the administration, including an increase in minimum wage, tax relief on minimum wage, a 35 per cent allowance for health workers, health insurance for workers, and free medical care for pensioners.
Edoka also noted the appointment of members of organised labour into government positions, describing the development as evidence that the administration has given workers a voice in governance and is committed to translating its promises into tangible policies.
The Kogi State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Gabriel Amari, described Governor Ododo as a labour-friendly Governor, expressing appreciation for his sustained attention to workers’ welfare. He particularly commended the Governor for sensitising workers on security matters across the state’s 21 Local Government Areas.
Amari said the three buses would significantly improve the unions’ operational capacity, allowing labour leaders to engage workers more effectively across the state.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Ahmed Tijani Suleiman, commended the administration for its continued engagement with organised labour and its commitment to ensuring workers receive value for their services.
