The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday allayed fears that plans by his administration to phase out the yellow commercial buses, popularly known as Danfo, would lead to massive job losses, saying that it would instead create more jobs in the transportation sector.
Ambode spoke at the May Day Rally held at the Agege Stadium to commemorate the 2017 Workers Day Celebration.
He said the Bus Reform Initiative, aimed at introducing over 5,000 air-conditioned buses to replace the Danfo buses, would open new vista of opportunities, while also redefining the means of road transportation in the State.
Responding to the fears raised by the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Lagos State Council, Comrade Idowu Adelakun, and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Comrade Francis Ogunremi, on the implications of the initiative to drivers, conductors, mechanics and other artisans, Ambode assured that it would benefit all Lagosians on the long run.
He said: “If Lagos is to be globally competitive, we need to change the outlook of the way the city runs. What is of paramount interest to this government is to make sure that every Lagosian has a comfortable means of moving from one point to the other. But I promise you there will be no job losses.
“The Governor is not interested in driving all the new buses. It is the same bus drivers, the technicians, the mechanics that will also still be employed and trained to use these new buses. Instead of job losses, we are going to employ more people for the greater number of the buses and it will make the city more beautiful and more comfortable for all our workers.”
Ambode, who also addressed the request of the labour leaders on workers’ welfare, assured that as the State’s Internally Generated Revenue continues to increase, his administration would work out modalities to improve the welfare of workers in line with his mantra of all-inclusive governance.
The Governor said his administration was ready to look into the plight of pensioners as regards the pace of paying pension, assuring that the process would be fast tracked immediately.
He said: “Just like we have said, we have provided vehicles for the unions but again it has not gone round and it has also not gone round to the private sector unions, we will complete the whole scheme before the end of the year.”
Ambode said as part of the celebration of 50 years of the State, his administration would provide a befitting State Secretariat for the NLC, while government would also work on local and international training for labour leaders to make them relevant to the growth of the economy.
Governor Ambode also assured that the officers of the State Public Service, who according to him are the real drivers of the development in the State, would continue to be equipped with the necessary competencies and skills in order to deliver effective and efficient service to the people.
Commending the choice of this year’s May Day celebration, themed: “Labour Relations in Economic Recession: An Appraisal,” the Governor said the leadership of Labour unions had demonstrated a responsible sense of stakeholding in the joint enterprise to improve the society and leave lasting legacies for the generations to come through the creation of sustainable wealth and value.
Besides, the Governor enjoined the organised labour to continue to show understanding, while rightly insisting on the due and just entitlements of their members, saying that any industrial unrest will compound the challenges of economic recession.
“I wish to commend the example of Lagos State to the entire nation in respect of industrial harmony. In Lagos State, both the government and organised labour believe that negotiations are more democratic and effective than unilateral impositions by the government or unilateral demands by the workers,” he said.
While alluding to the fact that his administration would not have been able to fulfill the electoral promises without the support of the “most versatile, resilient and innovative Public Service in the nation”, he noted that the immense contributions of all workers in the private sector was also chiefly responsible for the pride of place that Lagos occupies in our nation, in Africa and in the world at large.
Earlier, Comrades Adelakun and Ogunremi commended Ambode for his commitment to workers’ welfare and the determination with which he had been transforming the State, describing the Governor as an accomplished accounting professional, creative intellectual, skilled planner and focused implementor.
The May Day Rally featured March pasts from various Labour Unions, Trade Organisations and its Affiliates who trooped out enmasse despite the heavy downpour and were excited to see the Governor celebrate the day with them.

Ambode ride on, Lagosians are behind you

I also want u to explain how 5000 of this bus will outnumber is over 140000 Danfo bus here in Lagos..!! Nigga really..!!

u plan on moving computer village it seems u don't know who runs the town..nigga really..!!

I saw your convoy at computer village last week NIGGA I gave u the f finger..it means I am displeased with your plan to move computer village motherfücker..!!

Good one... Those danfo buses are indeed a menace to the society. I do hope if the current danfo bus drivers are to be the ones driving the new buses, they would be extensively trained, else it would be a case of putting old wine in a new bottle .

Please push them out quickly. Can't wait to have a Lagos free of frigging yellow buses.

whitebeard:
I also want u to explain how 5000 of this bus will outnumber is over 140000 Danfo bus here in Lagos..!! Nigga really..!!

u plan on moving computer village it seems u don't know who runs the town..nigga really..!!

I saw your convoy at computer village last week NIGGA I gave u the f finger..it means I am displeased with your plan to move computer village motherfücker..!!

so,u counted the danfo and the numbers exceeded 140k


I know u are bitter....like so many oda ppl...but then,the governor doesn't care

development is key

and those of us that live developments want him to continue.

as for u and ur middle finger,

diportivo:


so,u counted the danfo and the numbers exceeded 140k


I know u are bitter....like so many oda ppl...but then,the governor doesn't care

development is key

and those of us that live developments want him to continue.

as for u and ur middle finger,

Be nice son.

Oh really?Maybe ur officials will charge them a fee to be part of the beneficial?

When Decision like this is taken, many will loose out and few will benefit more?

If those yellow buses makes the city looks ugly, then change the color to something else.

Those Danfo buses are durable, than the chinese buses you are about to roll in.

diportivo:


so,u counted the danfo and the numbers exceeded 140k


I know u are bitter....like so many oda ppl...but then,the governor doesn't care

development is key

and those of us that live developments want him to continue.

as for u and ur middle finger,

140000 based on the number of registered danfo bus in Lagos according to the ministry of transportation Lagos State..if u think they are lying google it..!





OK how about I am the governor and I say I would to build a train track which would pass through your house and u most definitely know u would have to pack and be rendered homeless..and their are still other ways I can build a train track..would u rather I displace u from your house or I find an Alta native..



think of the people that would be jobless..i feel for them.. think of the people that would be harmed by possible crime outbreak.. I feel for them.. think of people that would go to jail in the name of survival


all I am saying is the people brought Lagos to where it is today...the people are Lagos not it's beauty or structures I am not against developments which would profit the people but again unprofitable development..

whitebeard:
140000 based on the number of registered danfo bus in Lagos according to the ministry of transportation Lagos State..if u think they are lying google it..!





OK how about I am the governor and I say I would to build a train track which would pass through your house and u most definitely know u would have to pack and be rendered homeless..and their are still other ways I can build a train track..would u rather I displace u from your house or I find an Alta native..



think of the people that would be jobless..i feel for them.. think of the people that would be harmed by possible crime outbreak.. I feel for them.. think of people that would go to jail in the name of survival


all I am saying is the people brought Lagos to where it is today...the people are Lagos not it's beauty or structures I am not against developments which would profit the people but again unprofitable development

I agree with the bolded

u av spoken well

SmartchoicesNG:

Be nice son.

NgcoboP,ur civic has started working now u av come back to this moniker

ur son dey where e dey......if u dey find am go SARS for area F

valarinz,come see ur paddy for here o

he has dropped the smellingmenses moniker he used to ask questions thru out his engine rebuild

I'm sure its only u dat can ask him for pictures of d civic and he will oblige u

diportivo:


NgcoboP,ur civic has started working now u av come back to this moniker

ur son dey where e dey......if u dey find am go SARS for area F

valarinz,come see ur paddy for here o

he has dropped the smellingmenses moniker he used to ask questions thru out his engine rebuild

I'm sure its only u dat can ask him for pictures of d civic and he will oblige u

Lol, leave the bros, when you can only afford cars of 1980-1990 models, it brings a certain level of frustration, let him offload it on nairaland, after all its free and it's faceless

you seem to love calling me out of nowhere sissy...sorry ain't gay.

diportivo:


NgcoboP,ur civic has started working now u av come back to this moniker

ur son dey where e dey......if u dey find am go SARS for area F

valarinz,come see ur paddy for here o

he has dropped the smellingmenses moniker he used to ask questions thru out his engine rebuild

I'm sure its only u dat can ask him for pictures of d civic and he will oblige u

smellingmenses:
you seem to love calling me out of nowhere sissy...sorry ain't gay.

stay there,and be fooling urself up and down

Ofcos some might be deceived,but trying to deceive urself shows how bad ur case is

NgcoboP

menstrualpad

searchng4love

shyling

phoexix

smartchoices

SmartchoicesNg

good thing is u don't deny being all of these ppl

talk again make I call valarinz for ur matter if u won't run back to ur hole

sick dude

diportivo:


stay there,and be fooling urself up and down

Ofcos some might be deceived,but trying to deceive urself shows how bad ur case is

NgcoboP

menstrualpad

searchng4love

shyling

phoexix

smartchoices

SmartchoicesNg

good thing is u don't deny being all of these ppl

talk again make I call valarinz for ur matter if u won't run back to ur hole

sick dude

Thinking that I have all those monikers makes you paranoid son.

menstrualpad:

Thinking that I have all those monikers makes you paranoid son.

SmartchoicesNG:

Be nice son.

mannerisms won't change

habits don't die

after the inherited civic,next stop is ur starlet

oh,those right hand drive cartons are yet to be sold u know

get busy

diportivo:





mannerisms won't change

habits don't die

after the inherited civic,next stop is ur starlet

oh,those right hand drive cartons are yet to be sold u know

get busy

Seems trolling me heals your delusional grandiosity..... Just like @smartchoicesng said good luck son.