Workers have role to play in regional integration, says Odesanya
Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Regional Integration and DAWN, Lanre Odesanya has urged workers to recognise their roles in Southwest Integration and development.
He also re-echoed the fact that workers’ rights fell within the larger framework of human liberty.
Odesanya, a former House of Assembly member and immediate past secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, said trade unions have always been the cornerstone of progress in the state, region and the country.
He added: “Trade Union Congress (TUC) has pioneered the ground for economic integration and prosperity across our beloved Southwest through relentless efforts and devotion to workers’ welfare. The union has crossed frontiers, uniting people from all walks of life and establishing solidarity without borders.”
The special adviser delivered a keynote address titled: “Uniting for Progress: Trade Unions, Workers’ Rights and Development in Southwest Nigeria” at the Lagos TUC annual training programme held at ASSBIFI Event Centre, Ikeja.
Odesanya said the annual training is an opportunity to hone workers’ abilities and skills to further strengthen the foundation on which Southwest’s development is built and formulate achievable solutions to developmental challenges.
He said the union should continue to provide training and capacity-building programmes for workers, promote social justice and encourage policies that aid the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Odesanya added:”All these are essential for regional development. Our shared future necessitates collaboration, conquering differences and accepting our diversity.
“Trade unions are the vision’s torchbearers, championing the cause of workers throughout regions and bridging the gap between aspiration and achievement.
“The belief that workers’ rights are human rights is core to our existence as a state and as a region. The dignity of a person is tied to their ability to earn a livelihood in a safe and fair environment. We must continue to fight for this freedom.
“TUC must be the voice of reason, the defender of justice, and the champion of fairness in the face of hardship. We must remember that employees’ rights are non-negotiable, and our Governor, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu shares this belief by implementing policies that provide the best workplace for all of us to prosper and a favourable environment for our businesses to thrive.”
“Lagos serves as the economic engine, a hub of innovation, and a symbol of what can be achieved when a region has a unity of purpose. The Trade Union Congress (TUC), Lagos Council, has been instrumental in shaping this success story, advocating for policies that benefit workers and the community.”
