Gov. Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers on Wednesday advocated for stronger labour union to achieve the much desired development in the country.
Amaechi made the call during the opening of the two-day workshop by the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Rivers council in Port Harcourt.
The workshop was held in collaboration with Michael Imodu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS).
He said that the importance of labour unions in the country could not be over-emphasised.
Represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Development, Mr Wene Wonodi, the Governor said that the strengthening of unions would also promote workers productivity.
Amaechi said that the workshop was a new development, adding that TUC had been proactive toward the country’s wellbeing.
He urged TUC and its affiliates to be dedicated, saying that dedication ensured better productivity.
Mr Peter Esele, the TUC President said that the union was ready to support every innovation that would move the country forward.
Esele said that the workshop, which was tagged: “Trade Union Leadership, Enterprise Effectiveness and National Development”, was to train members on leadership roles.
“The programme is targeting youth leadership, union leadership, national development as well as enterprise.
“We are trying to improve the capacity of our members and to make them better for the benefit of the union and country at large,” he said.
“We should begin to do things that strengthen labour unions, especially TUC, setting strategic forms to make a change.
“Leader should also imbibe the spirit of training themselves and ready to diversify the enterprise of the union to get to our destination.
“Nigeria is as good as the union, because the unions have been so supportive in country’s policies,” he said.
Esele urged members to start the change wherever they were and make the country work.
“Be very strategic, forward thinking to make things works.’’
Dr John Olanrewaju, the Director General of the MINILS, said that TUC was a strategic planner of national development.
Olanrewaju urged TUC to continue to be creative, innovative in leadership training and do everything to move the country forward.
He lauded collaboration among the unions in the country, saying that unity and love between them had been encouraging to national development. (NAN)