Members of the Nigerian Labour force in solidarity with Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, have acclaimed him as the incoming President come 2023.
Nigeria’s second-in-command had attended the Workers’ Day rally at Eagle Square, Abuja, on Sunday, May 1, 2022, where he delivered a well-applauded speech, after which the shouts of ‘Incoming!’ ‘Incoming!’ was chorused by a large crowd of workers who gathered for the May Day rally.
Prof Osinbajo, as a Special Guest of Honour at the event, delivered his speech on the theme: “Labour, Politics and the Quest for Good Governance,” and as he rounded off, the crowd began to hail him, chorusing “Incoming! Incoming! You go win! You don win! Unbeatable! No shaking! No shaking! You are our next President!”
The Vice President in the company of the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, former NLC President, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, among other labour leaders in attendance, had earlier in his speech said that May 1, was a day laden with historical significance and the importance.
He said that the importance of the occasion was further underscored by the fact that it was the last May Day celebration before a national election.
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“In commemorating this event, there is much to reflect upon and the theme you have chosen for this occasion invites us to ponder on “labour, politics and the quest for good governance and development.
“Given the season that we are in, this is entirely appropriate.
“The question that the theme calls for is what sort of politics can best deliver good governance and development?
“In addressing this question, let me begin by stating unequivocally that the labour movement belongs firmly to the progressive political persuasion.”
He said that the labour movement belonged firmly to the progressive political persuasion.
Osinbajo said that the question of what sort of politics could deliver good governance and development was decisively answered by progressive politics.
“As a progressive, I believe that good governance and development mean compulsory free education for the unlettered, universal healthcare coverage, inclusion for the alienated, social mobility for the poor, justice for the wronged and social security for the vulnerable.
“The progressive vision of Nigeria is of a nation in which the relations between the government and the governed are defined by a social covenant.
“It is of a society in which no Nigerian is left behind.
“It is of a canopy of inclusive and broad-based prosperity in which the security and the welfare of each citizen are guaranteed,” he said.
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba and Trade Union Congress, Quadri Olaleye, presented a joint address at the event.
The duo said that the quest for good governance and sustainable national development could not be attained without decent work.
According to the labour leaders, decent work deficits are manifest in insufficient employment opportunities, low wages, poor social protection cover, denial of rights and weakness in social dialogue.
“The significance of decent work to development is underscored by its inclusion as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals(SDG 8) which talks about the promotion of sustainable and inclusive growth and attainment of full productive employment and decent work for all,’’ they said.
The union leaders said it was time for workers to answer the generational call of national emancipation that would usher in the actualisation of the Nigeria of their dream.
