By Ezrel Tabiowo
Abuja
The Senate has advocated improved working conditions and package for the nation’s workers while describing them as the “nation’s engine room.”
The Senate disclosed this following deliberation on a motion moved by Senator Awaisu Kuta (PDP Niger East) during yesterday’s plenary.
The lawmaker, who recommended amongst others that workers should be commended for their wonderful contributions to nation building, noted that all artisans and workers in both the public and private sectors had been making serious sacrifices in line with ensuring national development.
Contributing, Senator Smart Adeyemi also commended the Nigerian workers for their steadfastness and commitment and urged the federal lawmakers to support the passage of the housing bill for workers in the FCT which will make housing affordable to workers.
On her part, Senator Chris Anyanwu called for the passage of the Occupational safety bill, which she stated had been in the National Assembly over the years.
Senate President David Mark, in his remarks after the adoption of the motion, said the senate would ensure in its duties to prioritise the welfare of workers in the country.
He said: “We thank Nigerian workers because they were doing their best in a rather difficult environment and under difficult circumstances. We ask them to continue to make sacrifices.
“The sacrifices they make will not be in vain and as legislators at the federal level, we have a major responsibility to ensure that we create a conducive environment for them to work, by the laws that we make and by the motions that we take on the floor here.
“What I will like to assure the workers on behalf of all of us the federal legislators and the Senate in particular is that their welfare and their wellbeing are of utmost importance to us and we take it as a priority.
“They should continue to relate with us and if we don’t have a channel at the moment, we should open a channel of communication between us and the workers. We wish them a happy May Day.”