Kwara State governor, AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq, has bagged the honorary Fellowship of the National Labour Institute (FNLS).
This is just as the governor pledged more support for workers in the state.
The conferment of the award was part of the activities to mark the 40th year anniversary of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) Ilorin, Kwara State.
The award, according to the institute, was in recognition of the governor’s exceptional commitment to workers’ welfare and how he maintains goodwill with labour leaders in the state.
Speaking at the event, AbdulRazaq reassured the labour unions of his administration’s resolve to sustain the existing good working relationships and pledged an improved engagement with the union leaders.
He congratulated the institute on its 40th anniversary and appreciated them for the honour.
“Let me first of all congratulate the new executives of the NLC. We look forward to a robust engagement with you. You would see that the state didn’t interfere in the election, and a proper representation has emerged for the labour union. It is a disservice to the state and the people when the government interferes with the leadership of the union. This is why we don’t do it.
“I thank the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies for this investiture. I have been there twice. I am a great supporter of the institute and of the labour unions,” he said.
The governor tasked the union leaders to get prepared for a positive interface with regard to the legitimacy of the new minimum wage in the face of high inflation in the country.
AbdulRazaq again declared that the government will not sack workers as doing so offers no sustainable benefits to the state and the workers.
He said it is costlier to retrench workers because of its negative implications for the economy and societal cohesion.
“We take workers’ interests seriously. As a state, since when we came in, we ensure that salaries are paid as at and when due, and we are paying the M30,000 minimum wage and the consequential adjustment component. Can we improve on that? Yes, we can. With proper negotiation and exchange of goodwill, we can do that. This is something that Asiwaju will do and this will cascade to the state level.
“Let me also assure the state workers that, God willing, when we come back, we shall not be sacking any worker. It is important to say that. It costs us more to sack workers than to keep them on their jobs, because when we sack workers, we still have to pay their gratuities and pension, among other costs,” he added.
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