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TUC condemns states for owing workers

By on May 27, 2015

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has condemned the refusal of some state governments to pay workers’ salaries for several months.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Committee meeting in Lagos, the congress advised the incoming administration to reduce the cost of governance by cutting down on political appointments, adding that the practice whereby lawmakers fix their salaries and allowances must be discouraged.

TUC noted that the government needed to review the salaries and allowances of workers for them to meet their needs.

It reads in part, “It noted with serious concern that the minimum wage of N18, 000.00 which is less than $90 has not been implemented in some states. In particular, the congress condemns all the state governments owing workers’ salaries, as it is unhealthy for the nation.

“The congress frowns on the way and manner the public office holders are paying themselves severance benefits running into billions of naira without addressing the legitimate concerns of the workers on the issue of pension and gratuity. The congress-in-session calls on the incoming government to restore payment of gratuity along with pension.”
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Moreover, the committee called on the Federal Government to put an end to the continued scarcity of petroleum products which had impacted negatively on all aspects of the economy.

TUC advised the government to immediately reconvene a stakeholders’ meeting to address the controversies with the marketers with a view to urgently resolving the demand and supply deficit.

The communiqué said, “Concrete steps should be taken on the issue of local refining to put a stop to the issue of importation of petroleum products and payment of subsidy.”

Moreover, the TUC warned the Federal Government to immediately halt and reverse the last-minutes transfers of the operatorship of OML 42, OML 40 and OML 30 which were being arbitrarily handed over to Neconde Energy Limited, Eland/Elcrest and Shore Line respectively.

It demanded the immediate reinstatement of the operatorship rights of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, which had been successfully operating the assets to avert the brewing industrial crisis in NNPC in view of the impact it would have on the ongoing transition process.

Commenting on the industrial crisis at the National Identity Management Commission, the congress warned the government of the effects of the anti-labour activities of the leadership of the NIMC which had caused many people to become unemployed.

 

[Punch]