The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged workers to use the ongoing lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic to brace up and equip themselves with information and skills that will enable them function more productively in the changing global work culture.

This advice was contained in a goodwill message by the party signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu to the workforce to commemorate this year’s International Workers’ Day.

The party said that this year’s celebration comes at a time the world is combating the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has kept economies locked down.

It noted the pandemic has created unprecedented disruption in normal life style, particularly at work place, adding that the long-term consequential effect that will reshape work culture, ways of doing business, provision of services and new opportunities are still difficult to be imagined.

The statement reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) greets Nigerian workers on the 2020 commemoration of the International Workers’ Day.

“We enjoin Nigerian workers to use the lockdown to equip themselves with information and skills that will enable them productively function in the changing global work culture and tap into opportunities that the eventual and gradual easing of the lockdown will bring”.

The ruling party acknowledged the tireless efforts, resilience, patience and commitment of the Nigerian workers in the onerous task of nation building and assured them that the APC led Federal Government would continue to prioritise their welfare.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is putting all necessary measures in place to ensure that workers and, indeed, all Nigerians are not negatively impacted from the economic effects of the pandemic now and in the future.

“The various economic stabilisation policies by the government and the establishment of the Economic Sustainability Committee by the President, which is headed by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is a clear demonstration of the seriousness the Federal Government attaches to the well-being of Nigerian workers in particular, and Nigerians in general,” the party assured.

It then urged “workers not to relent in their support for this administration as we battle COVID-19, in addition to getting the nation’s economy back on its trajectory of growth as quickly as possible”.