‘Industrial harmony key to seamless service delivery’

Lagos State government has reiterated the need for industrial harmony with its workers, as it is key to effective service delivery and driving the state’s economy.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who spoke at a retreat for trade union leaders in Epe area of Lagos State, with the theme: “Industrial Harmony and Sustainable Productivity in Lagos State Public Service,” said all stakeholders should be reminded that successful industrial relations involved striking a balance of interests.

Represented by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Benson Oke, he described industrial harmony as having the right to manage and the ability to plan for the future so that the public service can continue to be a success, to deliver value to the citizenry, and to keep its officers motivated.

From the unions’ point of view, it is all about securing the best possible conditions and living standards for employees.

“Both parties therefore, need to strike the right balance and to work at doing so with utmost good faith and all sense of responsibility. I assure you that, under this administration, there will always be a conscientious effort to strike the right balance in favour of all stakeholders,” he said.

The governor charged trade union members to re-dedicate themselves to the advancement of the status and the expansion of the capacity of the Lagos State Public Service.

Ambode stated that there was no disagreement on the proposition that human resource policies and practices were influenced by strategy and structure and, more importantly, by external factors such as trade unions, labour market situation and the legal system.

“In Lagos State, we are proud to note that there is in place, a well thought-out and sequential model on industrial relations practices. The prevailing harmonious relationship between the government of Lagos State and the various trade unions in the Lagos State Public Service is an eloquent testimony to the relevance, importance, competence and strategic indispensability to governance.

“I am therefore hopeful that all stakeholders will take full advantage of this retreat to further deepen the relationship of mutual trust that exists between the government and the unions in Lagos State,” he said.

The governor drew the attention of the unions to the need for all stakeholders in the human resource and industrial relations arm of the Lagos State Public Service not to rest on their oars.

He stressed that to sustain the existing atmosphere of industrial harmony in Lagos and transform such harmony into even greater productivity, all stakeholders should also commit to the promotion of the indispensable value of teamwork in labour and government relations.

He urged stakeholders to continue to cherish the value of encouraging the making and documentation of critical observations, adding that union members must bear in mind that the delivery of value to citizens is the fundamental objective of any democratically elected government.