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Thousands of workers in Nasarawa state
joined their colleagues all over the world on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 to celebrate
the traditional May Day activities. The workers parade, which commenced at about
8.00am in the capital city of Lafia, saw workers from 18 industrial unions
gathering together at the Lafia parade ground for the traditional rally.
 In an address to the workers at the rally, Governor Adamu said that the
occasion of the rally offered Nigerians yet another opportunity to reflect on
the state of the economy and the welfare of the workers. He advised that rather
than use the occasion for agitating for the workers welfare only, they should
use it as an occasion to resolve to place the state firmly on the road to
economic and social development and to achieve prosperity for all its people.
 Governor Adamu used the occasion to chronicle the various programmes embarked
upon by the administration to equip the civil service for increased productivity
and efficiency. He said that government had, in partnership with the
Administrative Staff College of Nigeria [ASCON] and the Institute for Governance
and Social Research [IGSR] organized various training sessions for the workers.
The administration had also continued to invest in the welfare of workers
including the provision of transportation and furniture allowances.
Continuing the address, Governor Adamu lamented that in spite of all that
government had done for the civil service, a progressive deterioration in
workers productivity and attitude to work was being witnessed. This attitude,
said the Governor, will not be tolerated and government will take determined
action against any worker who refuses to heed the call for punctuality and
dedication to work.
In a welcome address earlier, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour
Congress, Comrade Abdul Keffi, commended the responsiveness of Governor Adamu to
workers issues. He stated that Nasarawa State was paying its workers the highest
minimum wage in the middle belt region and the entire Northern states. He
commended the peaceful atmosphere existing in the state and the cordial
government-labour relations. He reiterated the workers resolve to give their
best towards the economic prosperity of the state and that the union will not
tolerate laxity among its members. He then made a case for the re-absorbment of
suspended workers in the state civil service.
In the spirit of comradeship, the Governor announced the donation of a
Peugeot 504 station wagon to the labour congress to ease their transportation
problems.
Members of the state executive council, special advisers, top government
officials and a cross section of the private sector in the state attended the
parade.
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