Workers Day: Seventh Day Adventist Advocates Improved Remuneration, Quality Healthcare
The Seventh Day Adventist Church in Nigeria has appealed to all labour employers to insure their workers and improve their remuneration.
President of the Estern Nigerian Union Conference of the Church, Pastor Bassey Udoh made the appeal in a statement on Friday, while felicitating workers on their day.
Udoh also appealed to government at all levels to provide quality medical care and affordable education for the benefit of workers and their children.
The cleric said the 2020 Workers’ Day was an opportunity to stress the need to prioritise the provision and to upgrade infrastructure necessary to improve the living standard of the Nigerian workers.
“While acknowledging that world economies are in dire straits and businesses struggling, this day affords an opportunity to stress the need for government to improve the living standard of the Nigerian workers.
“The Nigerian workers deserve a living wage that assures human dignity; they deserve quality and affordable healthcare for themselves and their dependents.
“Workers deserve quality and affordable education for their children; they deserve insurance and appropriate reparation for risks taken and injuries suffered on the job,” he said.
He said that the Nigerian workers deserve a dignified and secured retirement, adding, “construction workers deserve dignified transport vehicles, not cargo trucks.”
Udoh said that the church was in prayers to God for the Nigerian workers’ good health even amidst the ravaging Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“As this year’s celebration is tainted by the COVID-19 pandemic, we pray that you and your family members will still be standing when this pandemic is over.
“May we also use the opportunity to commiserate with the families of workers who lost their lives in the line of duty since the last celebration.
“We also remember our medical professionals who have had to pay the supreme price in the fight against COVID-19,” he said.
Udoh urged workers to mark the day heartily “as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of your labour.
“We pray that you will find fulfilment in what you do; that the Lord will keep you from trouble and that you will leave legacies that will outlive you.
