Workers’ Day: NLC Commends Ododo, Demands Reinstatement of 441 Workers
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kogi State Council, has commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for key worker-friendly policies while urging his administration to address pressing welfare and structural challenges affecting civil servants across the state.
The State NLC Chairman, Comrade Amari Gabriel, made the call on Friday during the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration held at Muhammadu Buhari Square in Lokoja, Kogi State.
Gabriel who praised the State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for maintaining cordial labour-government relations and consistently attending May Day celebrations since assuming office, described the gesture as a demonstration of respect and solidarity with workers.
The labour leader acknowledged several achievements of the administration, including prompt and regular payment of salaries, cash backing for the 2023 and 2024 promotions, and pension harmonisation in line with the new minimum wage.
He appealed for the reinstatement of 441 civil servants cleared by the state civil service screening exercise but yet to be returned to work.
He also called for strategic recruitment into critical sectors to address workforce shortages caused by retirements and deaths, especially in ministries, departments, agencies, and local government councils.
Gabriel stressed the need for urgent interventions in the health and education sectors, including the implementation of a five-year extension for health professionals and the proper integration of primary healthcare workers into the state system.
“Other demands include the rehabilitation of the Greater Lokoja Water Works, restoration of union activities in tertiary institutions, improved working conditions in private schools, and the inclusion of judiciary workers in the state health insurance scheme” he stated.
In his speech, Governor Ododo who was represented by his deputy Elder Joel Salifu, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare and development of workers, describing them as the backbone of the state’s growth and stability.
The Governor who noted that continuous engagement with organised labour has helped maintain industrial harmony in the state, noted that the ongoing civil service reforms are aimed at building a competent and efficient workforce capable of delivering quality service and driving innovation.
He also aligned his administration’s efforts with the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commending the federal government’s reforms targeted at improving workers’ welfare and ensuring sustainable wage systems nationwide.
WORKERS’ DAY ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, ALHAJI AHMED USMAN ODODO, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KOGI STATE
Protocol
1. My dear co-workers of Kogi State, distinguished labour leaders, gentlemen of the press, and great people of our dear State, I join you today with a deep sense of pride and responsibility as we celebrate Workers’ Day; a day set aside to honour your sacrifices, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the growth and stability of our State. Today is a moment of reflection and renewed dedication to the ideals of hard work, patriotism, and unity.
2. Let me say this clearly: I am one of you. I understand the challenges you face, and I know where the shoe pinches. I stand before you not just as your Governor, but as your Chief Servant, committed to leading from the front as we work together to build a productive, prosperous, and peoplefocused Kogi State.
3. When we sparked the reforms in the civil service, we did so deliberately and with a clear vision. We set out to build a labour force that is competent, efficient, and ready for the Kogi of our dreams, a workforce that can deliver quality service, embrace innovation, and compete with the best across the nation.
4. Our administration has remained consistent in prioritising the welfare of workers because we understand that a motivated workforce is the backbone of development. This is why we have sustained the prompt and regular payment of salaries and pensions, ensured timely promotions, supported retirees through the payment of gratuities, and maintained industrial harmony through continuous engagement with organised labour, while also investing in capacity building to equip our workforce for a modern and productive public service.
5. At the national level, I commend the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose bold steps have gone beyond wage increases to include reforms that make it possible to sustainably cater for the wages and welfare of workers. These reforms have provided the foundation upon which states like ours can build stronger and more responsive systems for the benefit of our workforce. The administration of Mr President has been impactful for workers, and I urge all of us to support ongoing efforts aimed at building a more united and prosperous Nigeria.
6. In Kogi State, we have aligned with this vision by focusing not only on meeting obligations, but also on building structures that guarantee sustainability, accountability, and long-term growth, ensuring that our civil service becomes a model of excellence and productivity.
7. However, the task of building the Kogi of our dreams does not rest in the government alone. It requires the collective effort of all of us. Let us put in the work, embrace patriotism, and strengthen our unity so that together, we can build a State that future generations will be proud of. We must reject indiscipline, inefficiency and instead embrace diligence, integrity, and a shared sense of purpose.
8. As we celebrate today, we honour the sacrifices of those who have stood for the rights and welfare of workers, whose contributions remind us that progress is achieved through courage, sacrifice, and commitment to justice.
9. My fellow workers, as we approach a period when political activities will naturally gain momentum, I encourage responsible participation. At the same time, we must not lose sight of the fact that our people depend on us for service and productivity. Politics has its place, but our primary duty remains service to the people. Let us continue to work hard to create an environment th
at will boost industrialization, create opportunities, and engage our youths. Beyond politics, our shared goal must be to build a Kogi that is industrialised and positioned as a production hub for our nation.
10.Let us also embrace the Kogi Rebrand Campaign by projecting our State positively at all times. What we call Kogi is what the world will come to see. As critical stakeholders in governance, I urge you to use your platforms to showcase the strengths and vast potential of our State. When the world sees the opportunities in Kogi, investment will grow, jobs will be created, and prosperity will expand. Kogi is counting on you. Our identity as the true Confluence of Opportunities must be reflected in our words and actions.
11.To every worker in Kogi State, I assure you that your labour is not in vain. Your sacrifices are recognised, your contributions are valued, and our government remains committed to your welfare and well-being.
12.Together, we will continue to move Kogi State forward, building a stronger, more united, and more productive State for ourselves and generations yet unborn. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “All labour that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” This timeless truth reminds us that every honest effort contributes to the greatness of our State.
Happy Workers’ Day, and may God bless the great workers of Kogi State.T
EXT OF ADDRESS PRESENTED BY COMRADE AMARI GABRIEL, THE STATE CHAIRPERSON OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) AND THE ORGANIZED LABOUR KOGI STATE COUNCIL ON THE OCCASION OF THIS YEAR 2026 WORKER’S DAY CELEBRATION HOLDING ON 1st MAY, 2026 AT MUHAMMADU BUHARI SQUARE
PROTOCOL
Your Excellency, Alhaji Anmed Usman Ododo, Executive Governor of Kogi State; Your Excellency, Comrade Elder Joel Salifu Oyibo, Deputy Governor;
The Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly;
Secretary to the Government of Kogi State;
Kogi State Head of Service;
Honourable Members of the State Executive Council and Government Officials; Labour Leaders and Comrades;
Distinguished Guests, Social Partners, and Media Colleagues;
Fellow Workers and Citizens of Kogi State;
Warm greetings from the Organised Labour and Kogi Workers.
INTRODUCTION
We thank God Almighty for the privilege to be here to celebrate this year’s Workers’ Day. Fellow Kogites, we gather today not just commemorate an event; we gather to reaffirm a promise. The Promise that human dignity at work is not negotiable. The promise that the sweat of our labour Shall purchase food, shelter, and hope for our families. The promise that Government and Organised Labour, though distinct, walk together toward shared prosperity.
It gladdens my heart to remind this gathering that since my first May Day in 2024, under my watch as the Chairman of NLC Kogi State Council, His Excellency, the Governor of Kogi State and his Deputy have physically registered their presence at all Workers’ Day celebrations. Today, like in previous years, His Excellency is here to honour and identify with Kogi Workers on the 2026 Workers’ Day.
The harmonious industrial relations and synergy between Government and the Organised Labour are openly amplified by His Excellency’s presence and the vast representation of government and political officials here today as workers across the globe observe May Day, we Kogi workers join that chorus. We celebrate progress achieved; we honour sacrifices made; and we voice demands that remain unmet. This is the essence of responsible unionism.
THE LEGACY OF MAY DAY
This celebration has its roots in struggle. Over 140 years ago, workers in America fought for what we now take for granted: an eight-hour workday, safe conditions, and fair wages. On May 1st, 1889, representatives Of worker movements from over 20 nations gathered in Paris and declared that this day belongs to workers everywhere.
That declaration means we workers are not beggars asking for crumbs. We are stakeholders demanding our rightful place at the table of national development.
This year’s theme, “Insecurity and Poverty: The Bane of Decent Work,” speaks directly to Kogi’s experience.
Kogi, as the geographic soul of Nigeria and a gateway to ten other states, bears a unique security burden. Ironically, security and livelihoods are inseparable. You cannot build a productive workforce in an atmosphere of insecurity.
Your Excellency has understood this truth. Your security initiatives, such as the Executive Proclamation on Security Protocols, the deployment of surveillance drones, the distribution of 49 security vehicles, and the engagement of traditional rulers as security partners, are not mere gestures. They are investments in the precondition for decent work. For this, we thank you.
PROGRESS WORTH ACKNOWLEDGING
On behalf of Kogi workers, I formally acknowledge the following achievements of your administration, though there are many others:
1. CONSISTENT, TIMELY SALARY PAYMENT
Your Excellency, in an era when wage arrears plague states across Nigeria, Kogi State workers receive their salaries promptly and, on some occasions, ahead of religious festivities such as Christmas and Sallah.
This represents a strong administrative commitment. It means workers sleep without the anxiety of poor remuneration that bothers their brothers and sisters elsewhere. It means children attend school without being driven home for unpaid fees. It means families can plan with dignity. Our workers have asked me to express their heartfelt gratitude.
2. CASH BACKING OF 2023 & 2024 STAFF PROMOTIONS
The cash backing of the 2023 and 2024 promotions earlier this year came as huge succor for workers whose Wages are already dwarfed by inflation. It is noteworthy that some workers wha retired from service benefited from this exercise because their exit salaries were recomputed based On their outstanding promotions.
3. PENSION HARMONIZATION & HEALTH INSURANCE FOR RETIREES
Recognition of retirees is the mark of a civilised society. Your administration’s harmonization of Pensions in line with the negotiated minimum wage, coupled with the enrollment of vulnerable pensioners into the Kogi State Health Insurance Scheme, has restored dignity to our senior citizens. We say it plainly: rest after labour has become sweet again in Kogi State.
4. GROUNDBREAKING OF KOGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PROJECT
your Excellency, among the most transformative commitments your administration has made is the groundbreaking for the Kogi International Airport. This generational infrastructure will provide immense benefits, including direct employment creation during and after construction, fresh business opportunities for small entrepreneurs, reduced transportation costs for air travelers, and greater global competitiveness for our state. We commend this visionary investment.
5. BROADER INFRASTRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION
Your administration has invested visibly in roads, water facilities, and institutional infrastructure at the state headquarters and in the rural areas. Gradually, the stage is being set for the state to move from a developing state to a developed state.
6. EDUCATIONAL TRANSFORMATIONS
The payment of WAEC examination fees for graduating students by Kogi State Government and tuition-free education in public schools are huge relief for parents and caregivers. Also, many primary and secondary schools in Kogi State are undergoing renovations and remodeling while new Ones are being constructed. These incentives and transformations have encouraged an influx of new registrations and transfers into our public schools.
STRATEGIC DEMANDS
Your Excellency, human needs are indeed endless. But not all needs carry equal urgency. | now Present our demands in order of priority, as a mark of strategic thinking and as a covenant with Kogi workers.
DEMAND 1: REINSTATEMENT OF 441 SCREENED & CLEARED CIVIL SERVANTS
Your Excellency, you may recall the civil service screening exercise that examined 2,027 staff. The Kogi State Civil Service Commission, after a tedious verification, recommended the reinstatement Of 441 of these workers as genuine, qualified employees unjustly laid off. The Commission is waiting for your order to reinstate them. We humbly urge you to issue the reinstatement order and return these workers to their duty posts soon, and those due for retirement can enjoy their retirement benefits and pensions.
DEMAND 2: STRATEGIC RECRUITMENT INTO CRITICAL SECTORS
Your Excellency, retirement and death have depleted our workforce. Critical sectors require urgent Staffing, inciuding entry-level and support staff across MDAs, administrative and operational staff in local Government Councils, and personnel in critical parastatals like the Kogi State vehicle Inspection Office, Sports Council, Water Board, Radio Kogi, Arts Council, etc. We are asking for needs-based recruitment to protect currently employed workers from overwork and create Opportunities for young citizens.
DEMAND 3: INTERVENTIONS IN THE HEALTH AND EDUCATION SECTORS
The Health and Education sectors are critical because these two sectors are always needed to access any functioning government, both in the township and rural areas.
— The domestication of the 5-year extension for health professionals, as approved by the Federal Government, should be implemented. A memo attached with the circular has since been forwarded to His Excellency through the Office of the Head of Service.
— The transfer of Primary Health Care workers in the local government, along with their salaries, to the State Primary Health Care Development Agency is necessary for proper coordination and the full operation of the Agency.
— The normalization of Primary Health Care workers’ salaries in the local government, in line with those of their colleagues in the state, should be prioritized.
DEMAND 4: OFFSETTING THE GRATUITY BACKLOG
Your Excellency, retirees who spent 30, 35, even 40 years building Kogi State are now struggling to cope with the high cost of living. The accumulated gratuity backlog, extending over years, is a pressing weight on the state. We acknowledge the financial constraints; however, we urge the state to start a gradual defraying using bonds, lenders, and financial institutions. The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.
DEMAND 5: HOUSING INTERVENTION PROGRAMME
Lokoja’s housing deficit is acute. Flooding forces families to evacuate repeatedly, market rents are unaffordable, and workers commute increasingly long distances. We therefore propose partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank and private partners for low-interest worker housing schemes.
DEMAND 6: AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR WORKERS
Workers face severe daily hardships due to the unavailability of transport buses. Private transporters cannot meet the demand, which erodes productivity and worker welfare. We strongly Propose state government intervention in mass transit, whether through a subsidised bus service oF Public-private partnerships, to reduce man-hours lost to waiting for transport.
DEMAND 7: PIPE-BORNE WATER FOR LOKOJA METROPOLIS
The Lokoja Greater Water Works lies moribund. The slogan, “Water, water everywhere, but not drop to drink,” affecting the image of our city is unacceptable and should be rewritten water scarcity directly reduces worker productivity and puts their health at risk. We urgently appeal for the rehabilitation of existing water treatment plants and investment in new infrastructure to meet Metropolis’s growing demand.
DEMAND 8: RESTORATION OF UNION RIGHTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS
Your Excellency, the prolonged ban on union activities in Kogi State tertiary institutions has isolateg workers in that sector and blacklisted state-owned tertiary institutions from accessing Federa| Government NEEDS Assessment interventions. Union activities, when properly guided, are a stabilising force that ensures worker voices are heard in institutional governance. We therefore appeal to you to lift this ban and allow responsible unionism to flourish in our tertiary institutions.
DEMAND 9: IMPROVED WORKING CONDITIONS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Private schools expand educational access and create jobs. Yet many tutors endure poor working conditions, unfair labour practices, and minimal pay. We propose a collaborative framework involving Organised Labour, private school owners, and relevant state agencies to establish minimum working standards, fair compensation, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
DEMAND 10: JUDICIARY WORKERS’ WELFARE CHALLENGES
Judiciary workers contribute immensely to state development but are excluded from the State Health Insurance Scheme enjoyed by other civil servants. Also, they never enjoyed the 2024 leave bonus offered to other state workers in 2025. In the same vein, their statutory peculiar allowance is yet to be settled. Your Excellency, the Judiciary Workers deserve attention to the aforementioned challenges.
DEMAND 11: PERIODIC LABOUR-GOVERNMENT INTERFACE
Your Excellency, social dialogue is the cornerstone of industrial peace. We propose quarterly engagements between your administration and Organised Labour leadership to discuss emerging issues, exchange perspectives, and resolve concerns before they escalate. This is not a burden on government; it is an investment in stability and partnership.
ADDITIONAL DEMANDS REQUIRING ATTENTION
* Immediate conduct of outstanding 2023 to 2025 promotion exercises across all affected Ministries. MDAs and Parastatals.
*AN appeal for the State Government to urgently conclude the process of absorbing KOTRAMA (Kogi Traffic Management Agency) personnel into the State Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), in order to avoid duplication of functions and to boost the number of VlO Officers in the state.
* Construction of vocational skill empowerment centres for welders, garment makers, Caterer, and others artisans to r educe unemployment.
*Utility vehicles for state parastatals.
*Implementation of weigh-in allowances for workers in media and arts parastatals.
*Repair and Upgrade equipment in our media houses and other agencies
A WORD ON PARTNERSHIP
we stand before you today as partners, not adversaries. The successes we Commended earlier were achieved because Government and Labour worked together. The challenges we present today offer the same opportunity.
Partnership is not silence. A true partner tells you difficult truths. A true partner names what is not working. But a true partner also acknowledges progress and commits to joint solutions. That is our commitment to your administration, anchored by former labour leaders.
We believe in your vision for Kogi State. We are proud to defend this administration. But we are equally proud to represent our workers faithfully: to speak their truth, to champion their dignity, and to demand that development reaches them, not just national headlines.
TO OUR KOGI WORKERS
Comrades, as I address you, I see the tiredness in many faces: the tiredness of those working without adequate rest, the stress of those wondering how to afford next month’s rent, the anxiety of those whose loved ones remain unemployed despite qualifications. Your struggles are real.
The solidarity we have shown today at this peaceful May Day celebration is our greatest asset. We Organise. We speak. We persist. | ask you to remain steadfast and continue to work hard with integrity, because our reputation enhances our negotiating power.
CLOSING
Imagine Kogi State five years from now: Workers board clean, reliable buses to work, arriving rested and productive. Retirees live in dignity, their gratuities paid, their health secured. Young people find meaningful employment in growing sectors. Families own homes in safe and developed neighbour-hoods. Kogites enjoying world-class infrastructure in all sectors. This is not fantasy. This is the Kogi State we can build together.
The torch of May Day, ignited 140 years ago by workers demanding their rights, has been passed to us. We will carry it forward with pride, with peace, and with a strong commitment that, work, when fairly compensated and safely performed, dignifies the human spirit.
Finally, we thank you all for your presence and your attention. SOLIDARITY FOREVER! VICTORIA ASCERTA!
LONG LIVE KOGI WORKERS!
LONG LIVE KOGI STATE!
