The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Kwara State Government on Sunday got locked in controversy over the welfare of workers in the state.
The PDP, in a statement by its state Chairman, Publicity Committee, Mohammed Alhassan, warned the All Progressives Congress-led government in the state to embark on policies that would have direct bearing on the lives of the citizenry rather than pursuing what it called shadow-like programmes.
It also advised the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, to ensure that he found solutions to the demands of the Joint Negotiation Council of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in the state, as contained in their letter of February 27, 2014.
“We warned the governor not to treat their demands with either levity or sweep the letter under the carpet, just like every other request documents forwarded by the labour unions, with the understanding that any attempt to do so will definitely cripple the state and further subject the masses to hardship,” it said.
But the state government advised the PDP in the state to stop politicising issues that concern the welfare of workers and the residents.
The government, in a statement by Ahmed’s Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, advised the PDP to provide credible alternative to government programmes rather than allegedly playing to the gallery with weighty issues.
“We reject the PDP’s attempt to politicise the ongoing dialogue between the state government and organised labour. Labour’s dispute was due to a misunderstanding, which both parties are currently resolving through dialogue.
“As a labour-friendly governor, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, last week had separate meetings with organised labour unions during which some of the misunderstandings were resolved while high-powered committees, comprising labour representatives and top government officials, were set up to expeditiously identify solutions to all outstanding issues.”
