PROFESSOR TUNDE ADENIRAN, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SDP) ON WORKERS’ DAY
*WORKERS’ DAY 2020*
_Professor Tunde Adeniran, the National Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) has issued a Statement on behalf of all members of the Party to salute and celebrate Nigerian Workers who have worked and toiled for Nigeria’s economic growth and are now at great personal risk in the front line for the security and safety of Nigerians in these challenging times of Covid-19 pandemic. Professor Adeniran has called on Federal and State Governments to respect workers and take workers’ priorities and demands with all seriousness, while setting aside any unwholesome anti-worker policies. The Chairman also urged Government to always provide adequate tools and equipment as well as conducive environment for them to function efficiently and effectively. The Professor commended the commitment, resilience and sacrifices of the Nigerian workers_
*_The full text of the Statement is reproduced below:_*
The National Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party, SDP and members of the Party hereby wish to felicitate with the entire workforce of our dear country on this year’s Workers Day. The Federal Government has declared Friday, May 1, 2020 as a public holiday to mark this year’s International Workers’ Day Celebration as has been the tradition since May 1 1981. The holiday is most commonly associated with the commemoration of the achievements of the labour movement. However, with the world in the grip of an unseen vicious enemy called COVID-19, this Year’s Workers Day should be to salute and celebrate workers, not just for ensuring economic growth and routine services but for risking their own lives to save lives on the front line of combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
The contributions of our working class in the Public and Private sectors towards building the Nigerian economy are massive and cannot be underrated. With the rapid spread of COVID-19, we must specially remember and mention nurses, midwives, doctors and all those who are called to the front-line in the detection, treatment and prevention of the devastating and treacherous coronavirus, often at personal risk. We salute and celebrate all key workers, and frontline operators who are critical to the Covid-19 response, those delivering essential public services; be it health care, education and childcare, public services, public safety, law enforcements, transportation services and distribution of food and essential goods. We salute and celebrate all Nigerian workers who provide water and electricity, voice and data communications, financial services, telecommunications, courier services and waste disposal. It is apt and significant to stress this at a time when serving or working is also dangerous and can be life threatening.
As we witness the global COVID -19 pandemic unfolding, we urge the governments at Federal, States and Local levels to consider workers’ priorities and demands with all seriousness and set aside any unwholesome anti-worker policies that can add to the existing trauma for the workers.
We commend workers of all categories for their commitments, resilience, loyalty and perseverance and in particular for their sacrifices to the Nation and people of Nigeria. We urge the Government to take note of these and show greater respect to workers, effect appropriate remunerations and always provide adequate tools and equipment as well as conducive environments for them to carry out their duties and to operate efficiently and effectively.
The Governments at all levels are also urged to note that the safety and security of lives, the containment of the coronavirus and the eventual return of nation’s economy to new normal will depend on the Workers and how they are treated.
Finally, I enjoin all workers and Nigerians at large to continue to abide with the directives and regulations of Government and Health Authorities regarding the COVID-19 pandemic to be safe and to control the spread of this virus.
*Happy Celebrations.*
Long live Nigerian workers!
Long live the SDP!!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!.
_signed_
Prof. Tunde ADENIRAN, OFR
*NATIONAL CHAIRMAN,*
Social Democratic Party (SDP)
01 May 2020
