Lagos TUC seeks government’s intervention on transportation, security challenges

• Re-elects Ekundayo as chairman

The Trade Union Council of Nigeria (TUC), Lagos State Council, has called on the state government to further reposition the waterways to address traffic gridlock.

The union lamented that one of the transportation issues of the working class in the state remained traffic gridlock, where productive hours are lost and avoidable stress and tension are unintentionally acquired by workers while, commuting to and from work daily.

While calling on the government to show more concern, it said it believes that Lagos as a coastal city would do better when the waterways are effectively and efficiently harnessed for transportation, using proper and safe ferries.

The TUC state’s council chairman, Gbenga Ekundayo, said this in his acceptance speech on his re-election for another three years, during the council’s 5th Triennial State Delegates’ Conference.

He said it must be complemented with the establishment of more jetties and emergency response services along the water routes, where commercial activities could equally spring up and have Lagosians gainfully engaged.

Aside from the transportation problem, he said there were other issues that must be given top most priority and should further serve as a social contract between organised labour and the political class come 2023.

The issues, he mentioned, had become more compelling as election season nears, stressing that if they are not put in place, they have ways of eroding the value of workers’ disposable income.

He called on the state government to address problems of insecurity, education, health and electricity. He said there is an urgent need for deliberate data gathering of persons living in Lagos and perhaps, a creation of more Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the war ravaged areas, funded by necessary authorities, including the Federal Government to attend to the accommodation needs of the displaced persons. He equally called on the state government to increase efforts in the call for creation of state police.

According to him, Lagos State needs to be in control of its police for effective service delivery. Meanwhile, Ekundayo and other officers, who were returned unopposed, promised to hit the ground running and promote the interest of workers.

“To all our allies and strategic partners, we will work with you on issues that will promote the interest and welfare of workers. We will speak truth to power when the need arises, because we strongly hold the view that labour has a role to play as a critical stakeholder in the policy direction of the government due to its impact on the working people.

“To our members, we promise to move to the site and commence our housing project so that members can start enjoying the fruit of their labour. The era where workers will have to wait to enjoy the fruit of their labour in heaven is getting behind us. We create wealth, let us enjoy it here on earth,” Ekundayo said.