PTF challenges Labour to develop new strategies for work-place operations

The Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 (PTF) has called on the labour movement to embark research and identify innovative ways of ensuring that productivity of the labour force remains a key driver to the nation’s economic growth.

Chairman of the Taskforce and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, who made the call at the daily press conference in Abuja, said the nation appreciates the tenacity of Nigerians in driving the economy, adding that the challenges currently being faced in the health sector on account of COVID-19 would be given adequate attention.

“This year’s Labour Theme: “Maintaining Safety and Security in the Workplace” further emphasises the importance of ensuring that all Nigerian workers are adequately protected to increase their productivity. Similarly, it places on the workers the obligation to take responsibility by adhering to the implementation guidelines that have been developed and circulated especially in this COVID-19 era.

“The emphasis on safety has been underscored by the determination of the PTF to ensure the provision of PPEs and related gears for our healthcare workers, security personnel and other essential workers. I also wish to thank our health care workers, the media, security agents, and indeed, all workers from different sectors that go out into the storm of COVID-19 everyday. We say thank you.  Your contributions have in no small measure yielded the achievements recorded so far,” he said.

According to the SGF, the atmosphere for this year’s celebration challenges Nigerians not only as workers but also as citizens to leave no stone unturned in the efforts to return to a semblance of normalcy.

“The reality is that our lives, the way we knew it, can never be the same again, post COVID-19. As we approach the commencement of the new phase of our COVID-19 control measures, I implore all of us to individually and collectively prepare and deploy all the necessary requirements of the recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions. We must also commit to making it a success through compliance. I also urge all business entities as well as trade associations, especially markets and transport unions, to similarly adapt and widely circulate these guidelines.

“The PTF COVID -19 remains committed to containing the spread of the virus in Nigeria and would always be ready to provide specific and necessary support to any component of our federating units as an objective of the national response,” he added.

Also speaking, Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, paid tribute to workers in the nations healthcare system, urging them to continue to follow laid down standard infection prevention and control measures and treat every patient with care for themselves and the patient.

“Doctors, nurses, lab technicians, scientists and unsung heroes like cleaners, drivers, clerks and ad hoc staff, are the Nigerians in the frontline. Many offices have been working nearly seven days a week since the outbreak started. Others more have been stretched almost to capacity, but still going strong, showing the Nigerian capacity for resilience and fortitude.

“I bring you special greetings on this special International Workers Day, which also marks 64 days since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, during which much has changed. The daily course of our lives has been disrupted and the number of persons affected by the disease has risen.

“Among countries of the world, we have seen horrendous fatalities, livelihoods destroyed and economies shut down. This virus has affected all of us – from those struggling to survive, to those struggling to return from abroad, and it has even forced changes right at the heart of government. We have survived many past epidemics, but COVID-19 has been the most difficult and damaging that nations and healthcare systems have ever faced,” Ehanire said.
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