Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has described workers as “partners in progress,” reaffirming his administration’s commitment to improving their welfare and easing economic pressures.
Speaking at the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration held at Murtala Square, Kaduna, on Friday, the governor said the recently approved Kaduna Light Rail Project by the Federal Executive Council would complement ongoing efforts to improve transportation for residents, particularly workers.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the project, noting that it would support existing interventions aimed at cushioning the effects of subsidy reforms.
“Our relationship with organised labour has been constructive, and we remain committed to sustaining this partnership through dialogue and cooperation,” he said.
The governor highlighted measures taken to ease transportation challenges, including the introduction of the free Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) bus service.
“With 100 buses deployed, over 1.5 million citizens have benefited within nine months, saving an estimated ₦1.4 billion in transport expenses,” he stated.
He added that the light rail project would complement the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and significantly enhance urban mobility through safe, reliable and affordable transportation.
Uba Sani acknowledged the economic challenges faced by workers, stressing the need for policies that consider their impact on livelihoods.
“In line with this understanding, we have prioritised the welfare of retirees,” he said, disclosing that with the recent release of ₦4.289 billion, total payments for pensions, gratuities and death benefits had reached ₦17.796 billion, benefiting over 8,300 individuals.
The governor said his administration has also prioritised investments in the health sector, allocating 15 per cent of the 2026 budget to healthcare.
“We have upgraded 255 Primary Healthcare Centres to Level 2 and established 23 Centres of Excellence, alongside a 300-bed specialist hospital.
We have also upgraded 15 General Hospitals and improved welfare for health workers through the implementation of CONHESS and CONMESS,” he said.
On education, he disclosed that the government had constructed 736 classrooms, renovated over 1,200, recruited 10,000 teachers and trained more than 33,000 personnel.
He added that 62 new secondary schools had been completed, while 50 others were under construction, alongside 102 new schools and renovation of 170 existing ones under the out-of-school children programme.
The governor further said nearly 150 road projects spanning over 1,345 kilometres had been executed to enhance connectivity and economic activities across the state.
He noted that improved security in areas such as Birnin-Gwari, Giwa, Kajuru and Igabi had enabled farmers to return to their farms.
“These achievements are the result of collective effort. Workers remain central to the implementation of government policies and programmes,” he said.
In his remarks, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman in the state, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, commended the government for the free transport scheme, resumption of the Teachers Endwell Scheme and the reabsorption of Kaduna State Water Corporation workers into the payroll.
He also praised the administration for paying over ₦17.7 billion in pension and retirement benefits and implementing the new minimum wage.
However, Suleiman appealed to the government to address the issue of consequential adjustment for senior civil servants.
