May Day: Senate President Ahmad Lawan Commends Nigerian Workers for Patriotism and Resilience on Workers’ Day

As Nigerian workers come together to commemorate this year’s Workers’ Day, also May Day, the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has expressed his admiration and respect for the unwavering patriotism and resilience demonstrated by the nation’s workforce.

In a personal statement issued yesterday, Lawan applauded the Nigerian workers for their dedication to the cause of nation-building and their perseverance in the face of significant developmental obstacles.

The statement read as follows: “As we celebrate Workers’ Day on May 1st, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to all Nigerian workers who are joining their international peers in marking this significant occasion.

“Throughout our nation’s history, the incredible Nigerian workforce has consistently displayed remarkable patriotism, commitment to the betterment of our country, and resilience in the face of daunting developmental challenges.

“Their ongoing efforts to address these challenges and support government initiatives aimed at fulfilling the aspirations of the Nigerian people have been essential in fostering peace, industrial harmony, and creating an environment conducive to economic growth and development in our country.

“The adage that ‘Labour creates wealth’ remains as true today as ever before, and it is with this understanding that the government must consistently prioritize labor-related matters.

“The ninth National Assembly has taken this to heart, ensuring that no anti-labor legislation has been introduced since its establishment in 2019. This approach has been instrumental in maintaining industrial peace across Nigeria.

“As we celebrate the final May Day of the Ninth National Assembly’s tenure, it is important to recognize some of the key accomplishments of this legislative body.

“Upon the inauguration of the ninth Assembly in 2019, Nigeria’s financial year, or budget cycle, was notorious for its unreliability and uncertainty. In collaboration with the Executive Arm of Government, the Assembly promptly reset the financial year to run from January to December, which has since resulted in a significant improvement in budget performance.

“Furthermore, we have successfully passed numerous critical bills that had become stuck under previous Assemblies, as well as updating several existing legislations that are essential to good governance and public service delivery.

“Key examples of these critical legislations include the Deep Off-shore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts (Amendment) Act of 2019, the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 2020, the Police Act of 2020, the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021, the Electoral Act of 2022, and many more.

“Of particular note is the enactment of the 16 constitutional amendment bills for the fifth alterations of the 1999 Constitution, which President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law in March of this year.

“Recognizing that Nigeria still faces many challenges, I call upon the labor movement to maintain this atmosphere of industrial peace and harmony under the forthcoming administration of President-elect Ahmed Bola Tinubu, set to be inaugurated on May 29th, 2023.

“With that, I wish the great Nigerian workers a joyful and meaningful May Day celebration.”