Osun labour unions hail Adeleke’s re-election, demands more on workers’ welfare

The organised labour in Osun State has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election, attributing his victory to his administration’s workers-friendly policies and improved welfare of pensioners.

The labour unions made the assessment on Monday at a victory rally held for Adeleke at the Osun State Government Secretariat, where they urged the governor to use his renewed mandate to address outstanding concerns affecting workers and pensioners.

Christopher Arapasopo, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), described Adeleke’s victory as a reward for his commitment to the welfare of workers, pensioners and residents of the state.

Arapasopo said the outcome of the election represented a collective victory for workers, pensioners and the people of Osun, noting that the governor’s attention to workers’ welfare had earned him the support of organised labour and other residents.

“This victory is not just a victory; it is victory for all and freedom from the oppressors as far as Osun State is concerned.”

He urged Adeleke not to relent in fulfilling the promises made during the electioneering campaign, stressing that workers and pensioners expected the administration to do more in its second term.

The NLC chairman also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as allowing a free and fair election in Osun, saying the outcome demonstrated that the people’s votes were allowed to count.

“The President has demonstrated that truly he is the son of the soil. We are proud of him because he has demonstrated that, yes, he is the father of the nation,” he said.

He said the Osun labour movement was proud of the President and declared its support for his second-term bid, arguing that allowing the people’s votes to count demonstrated Tinubu’s commitment to democracy.

Also speaking, Comrade Olamilekan Adediran, the Chairman of the Osun State Joint Labour Congress (JLC), said the relationship between Adeleke’s administration and workers had been favourable, describing the governor’s record on workers’ welfare as significant.

Adediran said “We have not been having it so good like this for decades. If you talk of Adeleke’s government, the regime is so sweet and he is okay with the workers. He is taking good care of the workers and the pensioners.”

He added that the jubilation that followed the election reflected the satisfaction of workers and residents with the governor’s performance.

Also, Abimbola Fasasi, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Osun State Council, described Adeleke’s victory as an act of God and a testament to the goodwill the governor had built during his tenure.

Fasasi said the enthusiasm witnessed across the state during the election showed that residents were responding to what he described as the governor’s good works.

He, however, urged Adeleke to consolidate his achievements by addressing outstanding welfare concerns affecting workers and pensioners.

Fasasi called for the establishment of workers’ housing schemes to enable civil servants to own homes and have decent accommodation even after retirement.

He also appealed to the government to settle outstanding minimum-wage-related obligations to pensioners and ensure timely promotion of workers as the new minimum wage takes effect.

Fasasi further urged Adeleke to remain among the first governors to adopt and implement any new national minimum wage, noting that “the current minimum wage has been eroded by the kind of inflation in Nigeria, in the country and the world over.”