2017,most difficult year for Nigerians- NLC, TUC

ORGANISED Labour, yesterday,
declared 2017 as the most difficult year for
Nigerians especially workers in recent history,
saying Nigerians faced series of daunting
socio-economic and security challenges,
despite hope that the year would offer succor
for them.
Speaking through the Nigeria Labour Congress,
NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria,
TUC, the Organised Labour in separate New
Year messages vowed to make government
accountable in 2018, demanding that the
National Minimum Wage Committee set up by
the Federal Government should conclude
everything concerning the new wage on or
before the end of the second quarter of 2018.
Meanwhile, a presidency source contacted on
the development, yesterday, said that there
was nothing to add to the hardship experienced
in 2017 because the President had himself said
the same thing when he received the FCT
Community during the Christmas Holiday.
“It is not anything new. The president himself
said it when he received the Christian
Community during the recent Christmas
Holiday, so there is nothing new to it,” the
source said.
NLC in its message through its President,
Ayuba Wabba, entitled “We Shall Hold
Government Accountable in The New Year,”
congratulated Nigerian workers and pensioners
for their resilience in surviving and pulling
through the year 2017, which proved to be one
of the most difficult for most Nigerians in
recent history.
Wabba noted that the previous year saw the
working people, pensioners and other Nigerians
faced series of daunting socio-economic and
security challenges, “even though we had hoped
that the year would offer succour for the
masses of the people.”
He said: “The deplorable economic situation in
the outgone year is aptly captured by the
statistics recently released by the National
Bureau of Statistics, NBS, which indicated that
over four million Nigerians lost their jobs in
2017. Against the background of the campaign
promise of the ruling APC government to
create three million jobs annually, this
statistics from the NBS underscores the grave
and depressing situation of the Nigerian
economic landscape in 2017.
“Despite the huge revenue that the states have
received through the Federal Government
intervention funds to clear arrears of unpaid
salaries and pensions in many states of the
federation, coupled with additional payment of
three tranches of windfall, (Paris Club debt
refunds), states such as Kogi, Osun, Benue,
Ekiti, Bayelsa and several others entered 2018
with huge arrears spanning up to 10 or more
months of wages and pensions. Under these
conditions, Nigerian workers, pensioners and
their families remained the most despondent
group in an economy that even the well-to-do
are groaning and struggling to survive.
“No wonder, our country is one of the worst,
known for having many hungry people in the
world according to the World Hunger Index
report 2017.”
Similarly, TUC through its President Bobboi
Kaigama, said: “Truly the pain we bear is a
needless one and we all shall work to correct
the anomalies in 2018. While we also laud
governments at all level for a number of
successes recorded, it is instructive that the
Trade Union Congress of Nigeria states here
unequivocally that Nigerian workers have not
only lost their jobs in millions but many even
committed suicide when they could no longer
fend for their families.
It is no news that pensioners (our senior
servants) who served this country meritoriously
die on a daily basis, even at verification
locations throughout the country. Though their
pension is not paid yet , they are burdened to
feed their graduate children who are yet to get
jobs five years after graduation…
“We are worried by the astronomic rate
factories close shop in Nigeria and the billions
spent on medical tourism. There was a report
recently decrying the spate at which our
medical experts flee the country. Nigerians are
brought back from Libya lame, blind, abused.
As an organization we do not blame Libyans.
We blame our leaders who have failed to
provide the basic things of life. What about our
young graduates who have now become
prostitutes, political thugs, ritual killings and
other criminal activities?”
On expectations for the New Year, Wabba,
urged the Federal Government to address
energy challenges, insecurity, and hoped that
the new minimum wage will be handled
urgently.
“Following the recent inauguration of the
tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiating
Committee by President Buhari, it is the
expectation of Nigerian workers that the
committee under the chairmanship of Ms Ama
Pepple, former Head of Service of the
Federation, will expeditiously conclude its
assignment.
This is because a new national minimum wage
has been due for over a year now. It is also our
expectation that upon completion of
negotiations, the National Assembly will give
the executive bill that will emerge, an
accelerated passage for the new national
minimum wage to become a reality before the
end of the 3rdquarter of 2018.”
For TUC, it demanded that “The National
Minimum Wage Committee set up by the
Federal Government should conclude everything
concerning the new wage on or before the end
of the second quarter of 2018. All state
governments should pay all outstanding
salaries and allowances to workers before the
end of the first quarter in 2018.
All corrupt political officials should face the
music, irrespective of their political affiliations.
No more soft landings for any body found to
have looted the country. Congress can no
longer accommodate this perennial fuel
scarcity, especially during the yuletide or any
other time. If it happens we will direct and
mobilise our members all over the country to
abandon their cars on major roads.”