Lauretta Fagbohun
Abeokuta.
The Ogun State governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Cyrus Oluwaseun Johnson Akinfenwa, has pledged to prioritise workers’ welfare and improve living conditions across the state if elected governor in the 2027 governorship election.
Akinfenwa made the promise on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, while addressing members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ogun State Council, in Abeokuta during an engagement with political parties and governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said governance should not be measured by occupying public office but by its impact on the lives of citizens, stressing that his vision was to build an Ogun State where government works for the people, opportunities are accessible and prosperity is shared.
According to him, workers’ welfare would be a non-negotiable priority of his administration, adding that organised labour would be treated as a strategic development partner rather than merely an advisory body.
“A government that neglects its workers should not expect exceptional productivity from them. The relationship between government and organised labour must be based on mutual respect, transparency, consultation and shared responsibility,” he said.
Akinfenwa added that his administration would promote constructive engagement with labour unions and ensure that government policies reflect the interests and welfare of workers.
Earlier, the NLC Chairman in Ogun State, Comrade Hameed Benco Ademola, represented by the Chairperson of the NLC Women Committee, Comrade Folasade Omoyeni, said the engagement was organised to enable political parties and candidates to present their programmes as the 2027 general elections approach.
Speaking on the theme, “Workers’ Voice, National Priorities: Engaging Political Parties and Candidates for a People-Centred 2027 Agenda,” she described the meeting as timely and significant in determining the future direction of governance in the state.
She challenged the candidates to present practical, transparent and realistic programmes that would address the needs of workers, pensioners, youths, women, entrepreneurs, farmers and other vulnerable groups.
Omoyeni stressed that political promises should go beyond campaign slogans, urging candidates to explain how their proposed policies would translate into improved living conditions for residents.
She added that the engagement was not intended to create political confrontation but to provide an opportunity for constructive dialogue, policy scrutiny, accountability and solutions to challenges confronting the state.
“Regardless of our political differences, we must always remember that after the elections, governance belongs to everyone,” she said, calling for inclusive participation in the development of Ogun State.
She expressed hope that the forthcoming elections would be peaceful, credible, free and fair, while urging political stakeholders to work towards building a state where workers’ voices are heard and their contributions recognised.
