I CELEBRATE ALL NIGERIAN WORKERS. | EWENODE O. WILLIAM ESQ.

On this auspicious occasion of the International Workers' Day, I hereby express my felicitation to all Nigerian workers.

It is on record that workers across the world are celebrated on May 1st of every year which is christened Workers' Day.

In Nigeria, we also reserved the same day as our Workers' Day. But the worry with the Nigerian case is the pathetic case of the Nigerian worker.

How much is the minimum wage of the average worker in Nigeria? How has the retirees who served creditably fared in Nigeria? Why is there so much lip service to the welfare and well-being of Nigerian workers? Who are the oppressors of the Nigerian workers? The questions are legion just like the problems of the Nigerian workers.

One would have expected the government at all levels to take stock of the legion of problems facing the workers and proffer a way forward but what we hear on most May days is fanciful speeches and promises thereafter the event ends.

May I at this point commend Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State for increasing the minimum wage of the Edo State Worker to N40,000 and taking other bold steps for the well-being of the retirees of the state.

My May Day counsel to Nigerian workers is that they should wake up from their slumber, and get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) ready to express their feelings in the forthcoming elections.

Once again, congratulations to all Nigerian workers on this day of International Workers' Day.

EWENODE O. WILLIAM ESQ.

Immediate Past NBA National Asst. Secretary.