The Lagos State Council of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has berated all Local Government (LG) chairmen in the state for reducing the Federal Government approved N35,000 wage award to N20,000, claiming that was what they could afford to pay their workers.
The council, while it appreciated the Lagos State Government for the implementation of N35,000, however, tackled the LG chairmen for putting their self-interest over and above that of workers by paying N20,000.
The state’s TUC in a statement by its Chairman, Gbenga Ekundayo and Secretary, Abiodun Aladetan, calling on all the LG and Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) Chairmen to rethink their decision in the interest of industrial peace and harmony, lamented that the wage award fell short of their expectations amid economic realities.
“They must know that it has become hell for workers to come to work since the subsidy on fuel was removed. The Chairmen may be immune to the present suffering Nigerians are going through since they enjoy in their comfort zone all kinds of benefits and humongous allowances. The state and local government workers, as well as the political class all go to the same market. We call on all the LG and LCDA Chairmen to rethink their decision in the interest of industrial peace and harmony,” it said.
While the council described 2023 as ‘So So’, it posited that the removal of the fuel subsidy in 2023 resulted in a staggering 233 per cent increase in fuel prices which negatively impacted Nigerians, particularly Lagosians on the overall cost of goods and services.
The Congress argued that as an import-dependent country, the floating of the naira at the same time the subsidy on fuel was removed further exacerbated economic challenges faced by Nigerians, with inflation soaring to 28.2 per cent, pushing millions below the poverty line.
The union called for a more cautious, well-articulated and realistic economic policy that would help lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty, stressing that the present state of things is not sustainable.
Projecting into the new year, the TUC Lagos State Council hails Sanwo Olu over the passage of the 2024 budget of N2.23 trillion.
The Congress described the budget as ambitious and audacious since the state claimed most of the funds for projects would be sourced from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The union expressed optimism that the budget would positively impact the lives of Lagosians, particularly in the areas of transportation, health, education, housing, security and environment.
The state council charged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the State House of Assembly, who statutorily are to perform oversight functions on the need to ensure all projects budgeted for and funds released are completed within the estimated proposed timeframe.
Speaking on the expectations of workers for the new year, the union said workers are looking forward to better and friendly government policies, particularly in the negotiation of a new minimum wage and better working conditions.
“As we are all aware, even if the government should give workers a N200,000 minimum wage if the purchasing power of the naira is weak, it will make a mockery of the increase.
“All we need is a strong naira, higher wage and for the government to address all those issues eroding the value of our money such as the high cost of transportation, health, education and power supply among others. If we have all these things in place, productivity will be enhanced,” it said.
On some of the projects the Congress is expected to progress in 2024, the union affirmed that the building of a mass housing scheme for workers, who are contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme would be vigorously pursued.
Also, the Congress expressed optimism that work will commence towards the building of the permanent secretariat of the state council, adding that workers will have reasons to smile as the Agric Cooperative Society of the union will commence full operations this year.
