Group commends Buhari on fuel, labour crisis management

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has commended President Muhammadu Bihari’s led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration for reaching an agreement with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on the protracted national minimum wage and the availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol during the Yuletide. They also blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar for wishing hardship on Nigerians over the same issue. Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if there was no agreement on the N30,000 national minimum wage. In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group said it is elated that “with the latest memorandum of understanding signed between the Nigeria Labour Congress and the federal government, a bill for the N30,000 minimum wage will be presented to the National Assembly on 23rd January, 2019 for consideration and enactment into law. “We consider this milestone as a sign of a responsive and responsible government that understands the plight of its workforce. “We also praise the Buhari administration for resolving so many intractable social problems that in the past posed a huge challenge to Nigerians. The effort of the present administration which ensured the availability of premium motor spirit during the Christmas and New Year celebrations is worthy of commendation”. BMO emphasized that the Major Oil Marketers of Nigeria and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, DAPMA had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike before the yuletide, and the negative impact of such action can only be imagined. “We therefore commend the Buhari administration for taking the bull by the horn and stopping this potentially debilitating action. “We further resolve the lingering Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike; the federal government has successfully engaged them and resolved the outstanding issues, which has resulted in the payment of outstanding allowances and salary arrears with the imminent reopening of the universities for uninterrupted academic activities. This again is a demonstration of the federal government’s commitment to the education of Nigerian youths. “We therefore note with satisfaction that the Buhari administration is meeting the expectation of Nigerians in various areas to the disappointment of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential flag bearer, and urge Nigerians to keep faith by re-electing President Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo for second term”. Tom Okpe, Abuja