Oyo moves to bridge welfare gaps among industrial workers

The Oyo State Government has reiterated its commitment to the welfare of workers in the course of its industry-friendly policies in the state.

The Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Adebisi Adeniyi, made this known during a sensitisation visit to the Nigerian Breweries and the Nigerian Bottling Company (Coca-Cola).

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, conveyed this development through a statement issued on Thursday.

“The sensitisation visit is a routine exercise of the Industrial Crisis Management Committee established by the state Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, to ensure workers’ welfare”, Oyelade noted in the statement.

The Commissioner for Investment, represented by the Director of Industry, Mrs Majeedat Olanrewaju, who led a delegation of the committee to both organisations, added that “Makinde had charged the committee to ensure a good rapport between employers and their staff in companies operating in Oyo State.

“This committee is interested in ensuring that many of the disparities in welfare conditions of permanent and contract staff are bridged in order to ensure a worker-friendly and productive working environment in the state,” the statement partly read.

Addressing the management team and the leaders of the labour unions at both organisations, Adeniyi identified welfare and safety concerns, as well as maintenance of peace, as the core interests of the committee.

He, therefore, charged the management team at NBC to expand the restaurant facility to ensure a healthier and hygienic dining environment.

During a facility tour at the Nigerian Breweries, the Brewery Manager, Seun Akinwale, as well as the Corporate Affairs Manager, West & Midwest, Danjuma John-Ekele, stated that the company prioritised the safety and welfare of workers as the biggest subject while ensuring adequate remuneration, welfare packages to both the permanent and outsourced workforce.

The Union Chairmen at the Nigerian Breweries, Comrade Festus Olubiyo and Comrade Lanbe Lukman of the NBC, both applauded the smooth working relationship existing between their members and the organisations.

Highlights of the visit included the inspection of the restaurants, changing rooms, some production lines and some restroom sections of the business environment.

In their separate responses, the Corporate Affairs Manager, Mrs Ifeoma Okoye and the Plant Manager at NBC, Mr Andrew Barnabas, expressed NBC’s readiness to work with the government and comply with government policies to enhance trade and workers’ welfare.