The Nigeria Labour Congress has reminded President Bola Tinubu of the failed plan of palliative sharing, stating that “we are the owners of Nigeria.”
This came as the eight-week time-frame set for conclusion for the restructuring of the framework for engagement with organised Labour on palliatives for Nigerians expired with no action.
While a more representative course of action on palliatives for Nigerians was put in limbo, the National Economic Council on Thursday, approved N5billion for each state as palliative to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Council presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima and attended by state governors and other statutory members of NEC at the State House, Abuja, according to the Guardian.
However, NLC has frowned at the federal government’s initiative of passing the palliative thought state government.
The NLC president, Joe Ajaero condemned the act, stating that it is against the proposal that governors should not be allowed to drive the process at the state level because they lacked the credibility to do so.
He said, “I have said in unmistakable terms that the governors, from our experiences in the past, should not be allowed in any way to drive the process in the states due to trust deficits.
“Perhaps, the government has decided to dash N5 billion to the boys in the states. For them to have done that, it means they do not have the regard for negotiated outcomes with the necessary bargaining institutions in Nigeria.
“Very soon, we will review our engagement with the government based on what it has done, which shows that it does not have regard for the committees it set up and also shows that it does not have regard for its promises.
“We expect that the government should show more commitment to its promises. If this is done, it will build trust and confidence, which will in turn drive social dialogue and we will get better results both for workers, citizens and the nation at large.
“So while governors have gotten their own, Nigerians are also waiting to get their share. If they refuse, Nigerian workers will have no other option than to fight for themselves. We are sovereign, we are the owners of Nigeria and as the sovereign, we will mobilise ourselves to do the needful to ensure that those we have elected into office obey us because it is in our desire and interest that they are supposed to serve and protect. We will hold them accountable.”
