Written By: Comr Jerry Nnubia

Today is yet another public holiday to celebrate the contributions of workers in the development of the society. International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day or May Day, is a celebration of labourers and the working class. May first was chosen for workers to commemorate the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago in May 1886. The day has its origin in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation and eight hours for rest.

Workers’ Day is earmarked for remembrance of a group of aggrieved factory workers who were brutally killed by government security operatives in Chicago, United States of America on May 1, 1886 while agitating for their rights and reduction in the number of working hours, which they perceived as excruciating, obnoxious and exploitative.

This year’s Workers’ Day is very unique as the celebration is devoid of the usual fanfare. Events and observation associated with the holiday will be in low key due to measures taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. For many, 2020 started like every other year – an expectation for a fresh start.

Nobody anticipated that the year would reveal one of the most infectious diseases ever to hit humanity. As the death toll and number of infections mounted globally, the world began to panic. Borders were shut, schools and offices closed, temperature checks and the use of hand sanitizers became routine in public places and in homes and workers were asked to work from home, while others lost their jobs.

This necessitates the theme of this year’s celebration, which is: COVID-19 Pandemic and its Socio-Economic Impact on the Nigerian Working Class. The theme is very apt, coming at a time the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic has taken a toll on the working class, especially the frontline health care providers, who risk their lives in order to rescue the lives of others. In some cases, many of them contracted the Coronavirus in their line of duty and died in the process. May we therefore commend and appreciate the uncommon love, courage and sacrifice of these front line workers in the fight against this disease.

We will forever remain grateful to our healthcare workers, transport workers, utility employees, journalists, media workers and other workers in the informal sector who have continued to show up at their duty stations, despite the threat to death, scarcity of working tools and paucity of gratitude. We condole with the families of workers who have paid the supreme sacrifice in the fight against COVID-19. Their unquantifiable sacrifice will never be forgotten and may Almighty God grant their souls eternal repose.

We equally wish to use this day to ask government and employers in the private sector to throw in sufficient weight to make the load of our frontline workers easier. We request sufficient Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), hand sanitizers, functional wash rooms, suitable rest rooms and other facilities to make the work of the brave warriors on the health frontline less herculean.

It is also our expectation that government should make necessary provisions for hand sanitizers, hand washing materials, etcetera in the offices as soon as work resumes, to assist workers in observing the COVID-19 Prevention Protocols. We wish to commend the efforts of the state government under the leadership of Chief Sir Willie Obiano towards containing and curbing the spread of this deadly virus in Anambra state.

We also applaud the government’s distribution of some palliatives to the
aged, the vulnerable and youths in all the communities of Anambra
state, as a way of alleviating the sufferings of the lockdown.

Fellow Comrades, may we be reminded that COVID-19 is real and highly
infectious. You are therefore requested to Stay safe, observe regular washing of hands with soap under running water, use of hand sanitizers, wearing of face masks and always maintain physical distancing. It is our prayer that God, in His infinite mercy, will see us through this trying period. Happy Workers’ Day.

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