Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang of Plateau State has declared that his administration will not be deterred by inherited challenges, stating, “We refused to be overwhelmed by the challenges we inherited. Instead, we confronted them head-on with resolve and compassion.”
He made the declaration during his 2025 Workers’ Day speech on Thursday in Jos.
The theme for this year’s celebration in Nigeria, is “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship,”.
Addressing thousands of workers and labour stakeholders, the governor acknowledged the enormous economic and security challenges facing the state but emphasized that his government had chosen to respond with purposeful leadership and empathy.
He noted that his administration had cleared the backlog of salary arrears, restored timely payments, and revived morale within the civil service.
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Governor Mutfwang paid tribute to victims of recent terror attacks in Bokkos and Bassa LGAs, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives. He assured the affected families of the government’s support in providing relief and long-term rehabilitation.
“We will stand with you in rebuilding our broken walls,” he said, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to security and community healing.
The governor also sympathised with traders affected by the April 29 fire outbreak at the Terminus Market in Jos North. He promised swift intervention and relief for those who lost goods worth millions of naira, acknowledging the difficulty of surviving in today’s economic climate.
Speaking directly to Plateau’s workers, Governor Mutfwang highlighted recent initiatives aimed at easing economic burdens, including a significant reduction in metro transport fares, the signing of a housing scheme MoU, and an upward review of pensions. These, he said, were designed to restore dignity and improve living conditions for workers and retirees alike.
He said the approval and implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage, is a “bold and compassionate step” to demonstrate his administration’s seriousness about workers’ welfare.
He added that the relationship with labour unions had transformed from conflict to cooperation, following honest engagement from the onset of his tenure.
Governor Mutfwang urged workers to remain united and resilient. “We are rebuilding not just infrastructure, but trust — trust in government, trust in leadership, and trust in a better tomorrow,” he said, assuring them that together, they would defeat terror, overcome hardship, and build a prosperous new Plateau.
In his speech, Eugene Manji, the Plateau state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), appreciated governor Mutfwang for being a labour friendly governor and commended him for his tremendous development.
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