The Trade Union Congress, TUC, has decried the delay by federal and state governments in paying the workers’ wage award for March and April 2024.
TUC President Festus Osifo called out federal and state governments while briefing the media on the fallout of its National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Osifo: “The last wage award paid to workers was in February 2024. That of March and April 2024 has not been paid as we speak, we call on government to release it so that when salary is coming in, the wage award should be paid too.
“While a number of states have been up and doing in terms of remitting the wage award, states like Benue have been lagging on workers’ welfare. Anambra is also culpable for this payment. We thought that since it is one state being led by an economist, he should be able to put on his thinking cap. Imo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi and Katsina are equally lagging seriously.”
He disclosed that they also reflected on the recent increase in electricity tariffs, which he described as too hasty.
“There are provisions that ought to have been followed before you increase the electricity tariff, and there ought to be stakeholder engagement, but in this case, it was not done.
“Today, electricity tariffs are being increased when some people are still using estimated billing. We have expected that by now every single house in Nigeria should have a pre-paid metre; we insist that there must be stakeholder engagement to arrive at a critical decision like this,” he stated.
On the inability of the Port Harcourt refinery to kick off operations by April as promised by the Federal Government, the TUC boss said it was one of the reasons for the resurgence of fuel queues in parts of the country.
He said: “Sometime last year, TUC visited the Port Harcourt refinery and government told us that by April the refinery would start production, but to date, nothing is working there. We urge government to do everything possible to make it operational.”
He added: “We call on the government to tame insecurity because farmers are no longer farming, we see what is happening in Benue and Jos. People need to go to farms to cultivate; that is what will reduce the price of goods and other commodities in our market.”
He further disclosed TUC’s position on the minimum wage, saying: “We insist that the only way to reflate your economy is when people have money to purchase items. When people lack purchasing power, the effect is that manufacturers will produce and keep on the shelf. So the Minimum Wage Committee should hasten up to unveil a new minimum wage.”