Why we endorse Sanwo-Olu, APC candidate, for second term – Lagos labour unions

Labour unions in Lagos State have expressed support for Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, who is seeking another term in office.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) own the Labour Party which has settled for Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra, as its presidential candidate.

But the Lagos NLC and TUC endorsed the APC candidates at a rally in Lagos State on Thursday, saying the organised labour had benefitted immensely from the Sanwo-Olu administration than any government and deserved to be encouraged with another term of four years.

A statement by Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akoaile, obtained via email by NewsTrends said both Lagos NLC Chairman, Comrade Funmilayo Sessi, and her counterpart at the TUC, Comrade Gbenga Ekundayo, led thousands of workers to the rally held at the Police Training College in Ikeja GRA.

It quoted Sessi as describing Sanwo-Olu as “the most labour-friendly governor”, adding that the first sitting governor to donate free hectares of land to Organised Labour to build housing scheme for workers, while also appointing a representative of labour in the state cabinet.

She added that Sanwo-Olu also considered the plea of the labour unions for a land in Central Business District to build a befitting secretariat for Organised Labour.

 

Sessi said, “Before we embarked on this rally, we all agreed at our respective congresses to support Sanwo-Olu to continue as our Governor. We have made the decision before today but we only came out to display our solidarity with him publicly. What we have done right in our house, we are showing it to the world. This is the first time the Organised Labour in Lagos is taking open position to endorse candidate of a political party.

“We are doing this because Sanwo-Olu has introduced unprecedented reforms to improve the welfare and the wellbeing of workers. We are coming out with our full chest to support the Governor. We are deciding our fate by being part of the electorate that will return the most labour-friendly Governor. This is the decision all workers agreed upon and there is no going back.”

The TUC chairman, Ekundayo, said there was no need for the Organised Labour to beat about the bush in endorsing the governor, noting that Sanwo-Olu was the first Governor to bring the labour close to table on which major decisions about workers’ welfare were being taken.

He said, “Democracy is about inclusion and giving listening ears to the plight of the people. We have tested Sanwo-Olu and we have found him to have listening ear. He also has a large heart to accommodate. We have decided and agreed. We are coming out en mass in the next election to vote for APC candidates in the presidential election and state election.”

Responding, Sanwo-Olu described the workers’ endorsement as “a well-considered decision”, saying the gesture would be reciprocated with more efforts to improve the lives of workers in Lagos.

He said, “Going by this Organised Labour endorsement, I have no doubt we are coming back better and stronger. We will embark on governance much more than we have done and provide the best workplace for you to flourish. This endorsement is a confirmation that workers believe in our leadership and we will not take you for granted.

“It is only when we are committed to doing more for you that we believe we would have made the best impact on your lives and those of your children. Our Government is for the people; we will not disappoint you. On behalf of my political party, I accept the endorsement as your choice and I promise not to let you down. The endorsement must now be supported by voting for APC candidates in the presidential election and state elections.”