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The minister of
labour and productivity, Emeka Worgu, said he has launched moves to
mobilise the organised labour sector to vote en masse for President
Goodluck Jonathan in the forthcoming April presidential election.

Speaking yesterday
in an interview, Mr. Worgu said in view of the commitment of the
president to labour issues and the harmonious relationship between the
organised labour and the government, he was sure that labour would
throw its weight behind the candidacy of Mr. Jonathan and ensure his
election, come April 9, 2011.

“What the Nigerian
workers rather would do at this particular point is to reciprocate the
gesture of Mr. President by coming out in their millions to support
this great son of Nigeria, who is the president and who is the
initiator of a better living standard for Nigerian workers and vote for
him.

“There is no better
way to show happiness and gratitude to such a great leader of this
country than for them to come out and vote for him,” Mr. Worgu said.

Speaking further on
why Nigerians should vote for President Jonathan, Mr. Worgu said he was
interested in the improvement in petroleum supply.

“From Maiduguri to
Yenagoa, from Yenagoa to Aba, you will find out that there are no more
queues on line. There is industrial harmony. The country has not been
shut down as a result of strike for as long as three weeks. Roads are
being fixed. There is a reform in the power sector and everything. The
man Jonathan is a political phenomenon. We have never had such a
phenomenal emergence in this country like Jonathan,” he said.

Labour harmony

The minister
reassured the organised labour sector and the electorate that the
election of President Jonathan in the forthcoming April poll would
signify a positive improvement in “the fortunes of Nigerian workers.”

Commenting further
on the harmonious relationship between the federal government and
Nigerian workers, the minister said: “since I assume this position, I
can count on my finger tips the number of times strikes have taken
place and none of them lasted for more than a day.

“The Labour Act is so clear that whenever there is a threat to go on
strike, the labour minister must apprehend it. That is where
pro-activism comes in. Under Jonathan, there has been a good harmonious
industrial relationship between both government and labour because of
the style of Mr. President and the pro-activeness in the ministry of
labour. That is the simple truth.”