The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has exposed the President Bola Tinubu Federal Government for failing to make any efforts in fulfilling its commitments to Nigerians made over 4 months ago, over the effects of the unplanned petrol subsidy removal on the citizens, Page 36 learnt.
This is as the NLC is gearing up to embark on an indefinite strike, in light of economic hardships in the country.
Among its demands to the Federal Government, are to address the consequences of the petrol price hikes, review the minimum wage, provide a workable roadmap to the Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, alternative, fix the country’s refineries and pay Lecturers’ salary arrears.
The ultimatum terminates at the end of the week.
Hours after a second meeting with the Federal Government ended in a deadlock, on Monday, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, made a live appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’, where he underscored the Union’s frustration.
He said exactly: “We agree that the Federal Government has had more than enough time for the past four months, and that even if there is a commitment, between now and the next four days, issues will be resolved.
“And we hope that the Minister ( of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong) will work with us within these next few days to make sure we resolve the problem.”
Speaking further, he lambasted the Federal Government for daring to describe its demand for an increase in the Minimum Wage for Nigerian workers as rather a Wage Award.
His words: “They have not made any efforts on any issue.
“Even the issue as simple as cash transfer or bringing buses on the road, nothing has happened to them. So, it is a lack of willingness and we cannot muddle up all these issues.
“Then you call a minimum wage as wage award. If anybody is looking at the issue of wage award as minimum wage, then there is confusion within that class of people.”
Citing a 2021 agreement on CNG vehicles reached with the then Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, the Labour Leader argued that it was clear that a million vehicles could be converted within three months.
Ajaero decried the Federal Government’s 2024 projection to deploy CNG buses for a more affordable mass transit system.
He stated: “If anybody is telling you that until next year, nothing could be done, I am telling you that the person is not telling us the truth.
“What is so peculiar about next year, when these processes will start? Is it that there are no CNG vehicles that can get on the road, or we cannot have some stations, even with IPMAN saying that their filling stations are available?”
More news later…
