Kwara State Government Provides 10,000 Bags of Rice as Palliatives for Labour Unions
The Kwara State Government has provided 10,000 bags of 10kg rice as palliatives to labour unions for distribution to their members, aiming to support workers amidst Nigeria’s efforts to reduce the cost of consumer goods.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq initiated this palliative following discussions with the leadership of organised labour unions and other stakeholders earlier in the week.
In their responses, the state Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Joseph Tunde Meshach, and state Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Saheed Olayinka, expressed appreciation for the governor’s consistent efforts to offer relief to the people of the state.
Acknowledging that the government has granted 11 out of their 21 requests, the labour leaders stated that discussions with the government on their remaining demands to improve their working conditions are progressing positively.
“We are here distributing the bags of rice given to us by His Excellency the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. On Tuesday, we had a meeting with him, where he said he would be giving the labour movement in the state 10,000 bags of rice (10kg) as a form of support at this time,” said Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Joseph, during a press briefing on Friday in Ilorin, the capital city.
“It is part of the measures to alleviate the suffering of the people, which we truly appreciate. We appreciate the gesture.
“In the ongoing negotiations with the government, we presented about 21 demands. The governor has graciously approved 11. We are still making progress. We were pleased when he said the committee would be sustained to continue engaging us on other outstanding issues. We really appreciate this.
“What we are currently doing is distributing the 10,000 bags of rice (10kg). All our members from various ministries, departments, agencies, and affiliates are coming to collect. We started the distribution yesterday. The affiliates came yesterday to get their allocation. As it stands, the units are also coming to receive their allocation.”
NLC Chairman, Kwara State Council, Olayinka, praised Governor AbdulRazaq as a responsive leader, urging him to prioritize workers’ welfare for the state’s growth and development.
“We are very pleased to receive 10,000 bags of rice (10kg) in this exercise. We believe this will go a long way. It is a show of support and empathy, and we appreciate it,” Olayinka said.
“This is not the first time we have witnessed different administrations. However, this government demonstrates sympathy for the public. This extends not only to the public service but also to the private sector.
“We have begun sharing the rice palliative since yesterday, and people were very pleased to receive it. It has reduced the tension and burden on us as leaders. They complained to us, and we forwarded the complaints to the government. Without delay, the government has come to our aid. We are very pleased with what is happening.
“In the ongoing negotiation, the most encouraging aspect is that His Excellency has maintained the committee established by him to address the requests of Kwara State workers. We presented about 21 demands. Immediately, 11 were addressed. The remaining 10 are still under consideration, while the committee continues to engage with the labour leaders. We hope that the remaining 10 will also be resolved soon.”
ThisDay Newspaper
