Cut Cost of Governance – Ex NLC President Tells Govt

By Mojisola Oladele

The Nationwide Industrial Action embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC ,Trade Union Congress, TUC  and other affiliated Unions was strictly observed in Osogbo the Osun State Capital.

The Labour Unions under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress are demanding the present #30,000 minimum wage be raised to 494,000 naira,in line with the current economic realities of the Nation.

Our Correspondent reports that the state secretariat, House of Assembly, Financial Institutions, public schools and other government offices across the state were locked.

In an interview with newsmen in Osogbo, the former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, From 1978 to 1984, Mr. Hassan Sunmonu emphasized the need for government to reduce the cost of governance by 50 percent to improve the nation’s economy and  make life bearable for the masses.

Mr. Sunmonu said government was not sincere with the plight of the Nigerian Workers and the entire citizenry.

“Considering the various policies made in the past, the political office holders should also make sacrifice for the nation by reducing their allowances”.

He pointed out that if the Federal government refuses to review the price of petroleum products downward and stop over taxing the common man, NLC should not collect any amount ess than hundred thousand naira as the new minimum wage for civil Servants.

Also in separate interviews with Radio Nigeria, President, The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE and Chairman, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, Osun State Chapter , Doctor Kehinde Ogungbamigbe and Alhaji Adekunle Adesina, described civil servants as the engine room of National Development, “hence the need to efficiently prioritize thier welfare”.

Doctor Ogungbamigbe said, ” The purpose of today’s Shutdown,is the fact that the Federal Government has decided or refused to listen to the agitations of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC on the this new minimum wage”.

In his own words , Alhaji Adesina said, “representatives of the various unions had sampled prices of commodities across major markets in the Country and came up with the amount an average household can survive with the present economic situation.”

Reacting to the recent statement credited to the Senate President, Mr. Godswill Akphabio that, the increase in minimum wage to the benchmark labour unions are requesting would led to high unemployment rate, The Labour Leaders frowned at the statement stressing, that the nation possessed the natural resources required to take care of its work force.

Recall that ,the meeting between representatives of the Federal government, leadership of the National Assembly and officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress , TUC over the proposed national minimum wage ended in deadlock on Sunday night.