The Commerce Union Congress, TUC, has decried the delay by federal and state governments in paying the employees’ wage award for March and April 2024.
TUC President Festus Osifo known as out federal and state governments whereas briefing the media on the fallout of its Nationwide Govt Council assembly held in Abuja on Thursday.
Based on Osifo: “The final wage award paid to staff was in February 2024. That of March and April 2024 has not been paid as we communicate, we name on authorities to launch it in order that when wage is coming in, the wage award must be paid too.
“Whereas various states have been up and doing when it comes to remitting the wage award, states like Benue have been lagging on staff’ welfare. Anambra can be culpable for this cost. We thought that since it’s one state being led by an economist, he ought to be capable to placed on his considering cap. Imo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi and Katsina are equally lagging severely.”
He disclosed that additionally they mirrored on the latest enhance in electrical energy tariffs, which he described as too hasty.
“There are provisions that should have been adopted earlier than you enhance the electrical energy tariff, and there should be stakeholder engagement, however on this case, it was not accomplished.
“As we speak, electrical energy tariffs are being elevated when some persons are nonetheless utilizing estimated billing. We now have anticipated that by now each single home in Nigeria ought to have a pre-paid metre; we insist that there should be stakeholder engagement to reach at a crucial resolution like this,” he said.
On the lack of the Port Harcourt refinery to kick off operations by April as promised by the Federal Authorities, the TUC boss stated it was one of many causes for the resurgence of gas queues in components of the nation.
He stated: “Someday final yr, TUC visited the Port Harcourt refinery and authorities instructed us that by April the refinery would begin manufacturing, however so far, nothing is working there. We urge authorities to do the whole lot attainable to make it operational.”
He added: “We name on the federal government to tame insecurity as a result of farmers are now not farming, we see what is occurring in Benue and Jos. Folks have to go to farms to domesticate; that’s what will scale back the value of products and different commodities in our market.”
He additional disclosed TUC’s place on the minimal wage, saying: “We insist that the one solution to reflate your financial system is when folks have cash to buy objects. When folks lack buying energy, the impact is that producers will produce and carry on the shelf. So the Minimal Wage Committee ought to hasten as much as unveil a brand new minimal wage.”
