Fresh bailout: TUC charges FG not to release fund until govs pay workers

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for telling governors the gospel truth on how he feels about their failure to pay salaries and pensions despite the interventions of the federal government.

The congress also floored some state governors for asking for the release of 50 per cent of the Paris Club loan refund, even when they cannot account for the tranches already released to them.

In a press statement signed by its National President, Comrade (Dr.) Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Secretary General, Comrade (Barr.) Musa-Lawal Ozigi, the Labour leaders lamented the plight of workers in the states and the need for urgent attention as many could barely survive.

The statement said, “For us the president Muhammadu Buhari was right when he expressed surprise on how some governors manage to sleep soundly when workers have not been paid their salaries for months.

The president even wondered how the workers feed their families; pay their rents and the school fees of their children.”

Comrade Kaigama said that the congress believes the president asked these vital questions because he still has his conscience intact, noting that most of our leaders have sold out their conscience.

Labour said, “They don’t feel our pains neither do their children and cronies. What is N18, 000 (Eighteen thousand naira) when juxtaposed with the prevailing economic realities in the country?

It is a pity our governors prefer statues of foreigner to our health, children’s education, job creation and other meaningful activities that help build a strong a society.‎

“The confidence we had when this administration was coming on board has gradually waned. We believe in the president, but he alone cannot do it. Efforts to fight corruption have become a mirage.

Experts have argued that one way recession can be addressed is when the wage of workers is increased; unfortunately the last wage increase we had was in 2011.”

The labour leaders said Nigeria’s case has become that of one-day one-trouble-kind of. Only last week, some ministers made case for ‘No Work No Pay’ doctrine.

“Their argument was that they want to check the public service workers in the country. Just imagine: how do you tell a worker that has not been paid for six months to continue to borrow to transport himself or herself to work?

How do you explain it that a country that is broke still pays twitter lawmakers over N29million on a monthly basis? This is inhuman, wicked, derogatory and devilish.”

The TUC leadership charged the Federal Government to hold on to the money until the workers and pensioners are fully paid.

The governors are stock-piling the released fund somewhere waiting for 2019 election campaign, but we are going to surprise them. It is not going to be business as usual.