Union hails Tinubu over moves to revive Ajaokuta Steel Plant

The Coalition of the Workers Union of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, in Kogi State, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

The unions particularly lauded the President and the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shaibu Abubakar Audu, for engaging with the original developers of the company, TyazhPromExport (TPE), and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

This message was contained in a letter addressed to the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shaibu Abubakar Audu and jointly signed by Comrade Anouda Isah Umar, Chairman, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Ajaokuta Steel Branch, Comrade Usman Bashiru, Chairman Steel and Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria (SEWUN), Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd branch.

Others Union Leaders who signed the letter are Comrade Ibrahim Abdulraman, Chairman, Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ISSAN}, Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd Branch and Comrade Salifu Idowu Adinoyi, Chairman, Nigerian Union of Mines Workers (NUMW}, Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd Branch.

The Union executives noted that this historic visit of the Minister and his team, was aimed at securing their support for the revival of the steel plant, noting that this milestone marks a significant step towards achieving the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

While highlighting the expected benefits from the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, when completed and put into operation, the unions stressed that they believe that the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company is a groundbreaking move that will revolutionize Nigeria’s economy.

“As you already know, this effort will create over 10,000 directs jobs for Nigerians, providing competitive salaries and benefits for its workers, career advancement opportunities, job security and professional growth and development especially In Engineering and Innovation which is key to advancement of our National Economy,” the union said.

“This bold step by the present administration is an elixir to the nation’s economic drive towards diversification and growth, job creation through spin-offs that would create windows of jobs for a projected 500,000 Nigerians, reducing dependence on imported steel and increasing the GDP of our economy.

“This would in no small measure improve significantly the current hydra-headed Security challenges of Banditry, Kidnapping and Robberies that is almost wiping away our Agro-Allied Sector which Is endangering Food Security.

“Furthermore, we thank all Nigerians for their prayers and support over the years for the revitalization of the Ajaokuta Steel Project and urge all other stakeholders to rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Stee! Development Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, in their current efforts.

“We urge everyone to recognize the importance of this project, to the national economy as local production of steel and other related products, will reduce dependence on imported goods, and increase Nigeria’s global competitiveness.”