By Dupe Olaoye – Osinkolu/
Senior workers in Nigeria have called for immediate declaration of state of emergency in the nation’s power sector.
Speaking under their umbrella body, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), the workers also urged state governors who are owing workers salaries to resign their position as their wage debt profile is corruption – induced.
Rising from its National Executive Council meeting today in Lagos, the NEC in session presided over by the President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, recalled how several billions of naira had been expended in the power sector to no avail.
The Congress, therefore, resolved to resist the call for tarriff hike as “it cannot be a solution”.
The NEC in session also advised governors who are indebted to workers nationwide to pay the salary arrears and not convert funds meant for salaries for election purpose.
The TUC added that any state governor who could not meet his wages obligation to workers should resign.
In its five-point communique co-signed by the President, Comrade Kaigama and Secretary-General, Comrade, (Barr.) Musa Lawal M. Ozigi, TUC implored the Minimum Wage Committee to speed up proceedings to ensure a new minimum wage regime not later than the agreed third quarter of this year.
On the possibility of paying higher wages by state governors who are unable to pay the N18000 minimum wage, Comrade Kaigama said their inability to pay their workers was due to corruption and mismanagement, not by non – availability of funds.
The NEC – in – session also observed that the war against corruption would not achieve the desired result if the Federal Government fail to address “the injustices being perpetrated by political office holders who collect multiple pensions and gratuities while still serving government in other capacities.”
It says this is not good for the economy.
As the 2019 general elections approaches, the NEC in session urged politicians to avoid hate speeches, and maintain law and order among their followers.
The Federal Government was urged to build citizens’ confidence in the system by taking drastic action to address insecurity, and ensure bringing Boko Haram and killer fulani herdsmen to book.
On the lingering fuel crisis, the NEC in session resolved that “the current situation in which the NNPC is the sole provider of fuel to the nation, and absorbing subsidies is not healthy for the nation and the corporation.
Consequently, TUC advises government to reimburse the NNPC to enable it perform its primary obligation to the country.
“Federal Government should begin immediate payment of all outstanding subsidy claims by the petroleum marketers under the PPPRA-administered Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) to avoid consequential job losses which the nation can least afford.
The Congress stated: “These delays are also stopping the payments of wages /salaries in the downstream sector in a scary dimension which must not be allowed to degenerate further.
“It is expected that the Government would engage the marketers as social partners under a special intervention arrangement that enables product marketers purchase foreign exchange (FOREX) at concessionary rates from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). this will keep prices at their current levels as well as encourage more participants “