The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have vowed to resist alleged moves by the incoming government to remove the subsidy and the refusal of the National Assembly to make provision for it in the approved 2015 national budget.
The Organised Labour’s position was made known by the factional Deputy President of NLC, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, at a press briefing yesterday, ahead the activities lined up for the 2015 Workers’ Day celebration. He stated that the subsidy did not exist as it was part of the corruption the country had been battling with and must ensure that it did not happen. The labour body also warned the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari not to be desperate in looking for money in wrong places.
“We know it has been a contentious issue over the years. We have consistently said that there is nothing like subsidy. So, it is all about corruption. If you also take your minds back to the so called removal of subsidy, it is something that numerous governments have embarked upon without an end. So, who tells you that if the incoming government embarks on it, it will see to the end of removal of subsidy? During Obasanjo’s government, this exercise was embarked upon about 11 times and Labour engaged the government severally. It is like the more you look, the less you see. For us in labour, we are not going to support that; both NLC and TUC. So, I hope that the incoming government in his desperation to look for money will do that. It is part of corruption. For now we do not have the disposition to support that and we are not supporting it,” he said.
Adeyemi stated that NLC and TUC lacked the mandate of their members to support the removal of the subsidy.
On the call by NLC for payment of outstanding salaries before the May 29 handover date, Adeyemi said the congress had already commenced campaigns in partnership with state councils to ensure that the outgoing governors paid their workers before they exit office. According to him, there would be no justification for any governor not to pay his workers before exit
