The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Niger State Council, has called for the implementation of N50,000 pallatives by Niger state government for all categories of workers in the state and local governments, as well as for pensioners.
Comrade Idrees Abdulkarim Lafene, who is the state Chairman of NLC, made the call when he led members of Organised Labour along with affliate unions in the state, on a march to protest the current hardship being experienced by masses as a result of removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria by the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Labour boss also calls for introduction of special support for students and non formal sectors, suspension of Pay-As-You-Earn PAYE, tax being deducted from civil servants salaries until further review of minimum wage and immediate implementation of approved N30,000 minimum wage for all categories of retirees.
Other demands by the organised labour in the state as contained in his address, were immediate implementation of promotions and annual increments for all staff at the state and LGAs, payment of outstanding Annual Leave Grants for some categories of workers who were yet to benefit at state and LGAs, monitoring and enforcement of price control measures on essential commodities, complete rehabilitation of infrastructural facilities accross the state and local government areas, as well as improving of security situation in the state and LGAs with special emphasis to encourage local vigilantees.
Comrade Abdulkareem Lafene equally use the occasion to delivered the address of the president of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, to the Speaker of the House of Assembly and Head of Service, however said that the essence was to remind the present administration that the primary purpose of government as enshrined in section two of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy was to harness the resources of the nation for the interest and welfare of the people.
He drew the attention to the fact that government insensitivity and unrestrained resort to neo-liberalism and reign of the market forces has grounded the nation to a halt, increased loss of jobs, poverty and misery, showed that government acted in bad faith, by way of refusing to give effect to the resolutions proposed and voluntary signed with organised labour.
Other reasons for the protest as contained in the address of NLC president presented, was also to show how the Tinubu led administration was morphing into a dictatorship by acting unilaterally and unwilling to listen to other views.
Comrade Joe Ajaero said the protest was also against government indecent haste to please foreign interest (lMF and world Bank), for approval ratings at the expense of ordinary Nigerians as well as to challenged government continued protection of few previleged and criminal elements at the expense of the generality of Nigerians.
The NLC however demands from the federal government, the immediate implementation in good faith of the resolutions made with the congress, jointly signed with the government and TUC, immediate reserval of all anti-poor policies of government including the recent hike in PMS price, school fees, VAT, fix the nation local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, release of 8 months salaries of universities lecturers and their workers, accord appropriate recognition and support to the presidential steering committee and the work of its subcommittees as well as to henceforth put a stop to inhuman actions and policies of government.
It would be recalled that the federal government, NLC and TUC secured a memorandum of understanding (MOU) earlier on the need to establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award, and established a framework and timeline for implementation.
The protesters marched to the state House of Assembly and the Office of the state Head of Service to deliver the speech of the National President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero.