FG pledges cooperation with regional Labour body

The Federal Government has pledged to give its support to the Organisation of Trade Unions of West Africa (OTUWA), which recently moved its regional headquarters to Abuja the Federal Capital Territory.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), MrBabachirLawal, made the pledge on Tuesday in a statement issued in Abuja by MrBolajiAdebiyi, Director of Press in the office of the SGF.

Lawal while receiving a delegation from OTUWA led by its President, MrMademba Sock, applauded the decision of OTUWA to relocate its headquarters to Abuja and said Nigeria will partner with labour unions in the region to secure peace which is necessary for enhancing productivity and development.

According to his statement, the proximity of the union to ECOWAS secretariat would enhance the anticipated and much desired cooperation.

“The Government of President MuhammaduBuhari is prepared to partner with the unions to achieve peace and security across the West African sub-region,” the statement quoted the SGF as saying.

In the statement, the SGF assured the delegation of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that the union settles down in Abuja.

Sock in his remarks told the SGF that the union was prepared to contribute to the development and integration of the West African sub-region.

It said the union president pledged to partner with governments in West Africa to lead workers to transform the entire sub-region and accelerate socio-cultural, economic and political integration.

“To achieve this, the union will hold from May 11-13, 2016, a Strategic Planning Workshop in Abuja to draw up a five-year Plan of Activities for OTUWA.

The workshop, the statement said, would be supported by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

It added the participants were drawn from major global unions, labourorganisations in the sub-region and across Africa‎.