President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged Nigerians to brace up for the harsh economic realities in the country occasioned by the recent fall in the price of oil at the international market, saying that industrial relationship can only be more cordial, if democracy was nurtured to grow.

The President, represented by the Minister of labour, Sen. Joel Danlamilkenya, spoke while addressing workers during yesterday’s May Day celebrations.

Jonathan pointed out that the present harsh economic realities were so glaring that the workers cannot afford to ignore them in their engagements with government and advised them to be realistic with their demands.

“It is in this circumstance that the theme of this year’s Workers’ Day becomes more germane for positive engagement between government and labour. It is therefore proper to celebrate workers because of the critical role they play in the society. May Day confers us the opportunity to reflect on the inherent reality we are being confronted with due to scarce resources.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, have a duty to play, charting a way forward for continued development and growth of Nigeria.’’

Jonathan then commended both the NLC and the TUC, for their various contributions in the sustenance of the nation’s development and democracy, describing them as the gateway to the nation development.

“The workers, apart from their immense contributions, have in no small ways, made contributions towards the achievement of democracy through the enhancement of the processes and participation. Over these years, the workers have deepened their voice and government had attended to them. There is a new initiative being championed by the Ministry of Labour and Productivity aimed at broadening industrial and labour harmony and trade unionism. This development will no doubt engender the spirit of patriotism, national consciousness, occasioned by natural justice and reasoning.

“For us, the labour movement is central to national productivity and development, and as such have a critical role to play in chatting a way forward for continued development and productivity and in settling labour disputes.

“I have set a mechanism in place to further deepen government and labour relations. Let us use this opportunity to make a commitment for national development and rebirth. Attainment of national vision will not be possible without the commitment, work and participation of Nigerian workers. It is a joint effort. I look forward to seeing a strong and vibrant federation under the new leadership of labour. I urge them to ensure workers welfare and also, working constructively for the transformation of Nigeria.”

RATAWOA demands improved welfare
Earlier, the Deputy National President of Radio and Television Workers Association, RATAWOA, Comrade Sunday Olujetro, had lamented the poor salary and welfare package for media workers across the country, describing it as injustice.

Olujetro said RATAWOA was determined to fight for the rights and interest of its members until the injustice being meted to them were addressed.

He wondered why the media workers would be paid so poorly compared to their counterparts in most of the public institutions like CBN, FIRS and NNPC, a trend he said was in the opposite in the 1970s.

“We feel very bad that we are so poorly paid today because we were told that before the Udoji’s report in 1975 that workers in CBN resigned their appointments and joined the media because the media paid higher than the CBN workers but today, the reverse is the case.

“You will see workers in CBN, NNPC, FIRS earning more than our people but we have put our case in place with those in charge of salaries and wages in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Information.

Our salaries can’t take us home, and we can’t do anything with it.   A lot of workers are on personal loans; as a result of this situation every pay day is a sad day for workers.

“ The incoming President can’t talk about cutting salaries. We believe he was talking about political office holders not about the workers because right now, what the workers are taking cannot take them home. So, he can’t do that, if he ventures do that, then we will be in separate lanes,” he said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/jonathan-to-workers-get-ready-for-hard-times-be-realistic-with-your-demands/

After the clueless president stole more than $20 Billion, another $32 B for fighting Boko haram for 5 years and still a massive failure and you are here preaching? Na thunder to fire and pieces that your du.mbass brain! The worst president in the world ever!!

Oga Jona u wan kill us B4 may 29th?? No light No water No fuel... dia is God oo

cozy7:
Haven't they suffered enough? Delay of salaries, irregular promotions, inconclusive working conditions etc. As if that's not enough, u now ask them to brace up for hard times? Habaa! GEJ you're wicked!
I await May 29th, so you'll get out of there, let d real man take over.

Slow down bro. we r all waiting for the clueless one to step aside. its 27days to go.

No offense but i doubt if you are a female and where did you get all your figures from?.. It bothers me people find it difficult to make a point without insult and offensive language..

madamoringo:
After the clueless president stole more than $20 Billion, another $32 B for fighting Boko haram for 5 years and still a massive failure and you are here preaching? Na thunder to fire and pieces that your du.mbass brain! The worst president in the world ever!!

Gej = abacha

The president is kind of right o.......I remember Ameachi said something to rivers state students during his first tenure meeting with them....he said those lecturer are not after your own good they are after demands that will majorly benefit their pocket.....funny enough most them have 2 to 3 private business they run

My question is what else does our clueless presido want us to sacrifice again? It has been verified that Nigeria workers are the less paid in the world and also working under harshest conditions with littles or unavailable benefits while our political class expecially the dum.bass presido is the most extravagant president in the world budgeting over 4 billion for food alone, running a fleet of 11 jets airline for his services alone. What else does he want us to sacrifice? Help me ask am

so sad....mk I go warm my salad before I comment!

madamoringo:
After the clueless president stole more than $20 Billion, another $32 B for fighting Boko haram for 5 years and still a massive failure and you are here preaching? Na thunder to fire and pieces that your du.mbass brain! The worst president in the world ever!!

Bros!u dey para oooo.Ao many month salary dem dey own u?

This man is so funny, he lacks vision, and sometimes it baffles me how he reasons or those who give him advises are so daft. The whole nation was crying during the ASUU strike the clueless one spent Billions on the CONFAB which its reports are not even for once looked at by GEJ himself. Workers day again you sent a minister to represent you what could have been more important than the work force of a nation So Sambo was also busy right. Abegiii if he knows his tired of being addressed as the president already he should just take a taxi to otuoke asap and meet mama shepopo

efilefun:
lol

wertin be lol for the matter

We are already feeling the heat oh

Buhari should also get ready for hard times.

alright

If and if only the government cuts down on its spending and embezzlement. The problem is not in whether Nigerians are willing or should make sacrifices. The problem is in the fact that those sacrifices are only made by the masses. And then it would end up in the pockets of members of the executive, legislature and the judiciary.


*Lalasticlala*

Oyo state workers I hail o..... 3months and still counting

The money they wasted for the failed elections can pay over 100000 civil servants.
They've not even paid the families of late police officers and civil servants (group life cover).

Workers should be ready for harsh times, but they should be ready for looting time. Smh

lol u want that space?

hbpeze:


wertin be lol for the matter

Jonathan is simply telling workers to be ready for harsh times under Buhari's tenure. He also knows Buhari was a scam

Before the drop of oil price was he doing anything different You can call buhari a scam for being truthful but GEJ is the best in your opinion after all the looting and cover up for fellow thieves. You can cry me a river but this same buhari will rule NIGERIA for 8 years if he decides to go for another term.

ShowYourCertificate:
Jonathan is simply telling workers to be ready for harsh times under Buhari's tenure. He also knows Buhari was a scam

ajibolabd:
Gej = abacha

NEGATIVE!!!..he's far worse than Abacha.

may 29 is around the corner.we cant wait to dispose u CLUELESS ONE.nonsense

After may 29th

I saw it coming from dis APC Government

ppl hu dosnt knw Amaechi thinks his a saint

Amaechi is currently owing rivers pensioniers 5months


as for buhari, b4 he pays workers am sure he will settle his cows first, settle boko haram, settle tinubu and rest

#babaonechance

Tell them! Lazy folks who expect robust salary.

.

Ok

Baba if na joke, abeg stop am. Na beg we dey beg u.

Clears throat....