|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The leadership of Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday accused State Governors of stock-piling the released Paris Club refund for 2019 election campaign.
The Congress stated this while responding to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum for the release of bailout fund during a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House on Tuesday.
While commending President Buhari’s hard stance, the Congress urged Presidency not to be cowed by the State Governors on the demand for fresh bailout.
Bobboi Kaigama, TUC President and Musa-Lawal Ozigi, TUC General Secretary in a statement obtained by BusinessDay expressed displeasure over the misapplication of the bail-out funds which led to the non-payment of salaries and pensions despite the interventions of the Federal Government.
The Congress also floored some State Governors for asking for the release of 50 percent of the Paris Club loan refund, even when they cannot account for the tranches already released to them.
While expressing regrets over the plight of workers in the states, the labour leaders stressed the need for “urgent attention as many could barely survive.
“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,” they stressed.
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.
“They don’t feel our pains neither do their children and cronies. What is N18,000 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.
“Though due for review but some forces who take delight in using our children as political thugs have refused. They want the status-quo to remain- (master-servant relationship). They tell us that the economy is in recession yet it does not affect them,” Kaigama said.
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 fare himself or herself to job? How do you explain it that a country that is broke still pays twitter lawmakers over N29m on a monthly basis. This is inhuman, wicked, derogatory and devilish,” they noted.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
