Subsidy removal: Labour writes state govs


LAGOS — PUBLIC sector unions, under the umbrella of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC(Trade union side),  have written to  the 36 state governors, demanding full implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage and other benefits, following partial removal of subsidy on petrol, which had led to high cost of goods and services in the country.


Vanguard gathered that while the South-East governors were yet to implement the new wage, only Delta and Bayelsa States have implemented same.

JNPSNC in a statement by its National Secretary, Mr Marcus Omokuale, decried the excessive taxation of public workers in the states and urged governors to immediately address same.
Lamenting the high cost of living occasioned by the recent hike in the pump price of petrol, JNPSNC said: “This has to do with the astronomical rise in the cost of living consequent upon the hike in fuel pump price and the dire impact on the public servants, whose wages and purchasing power had been drastically undermined. It is a statement of fact that the growth of an economy depends on reasonable purchasing power for effective demand to be actualized in the market.”

“Equally, workers productivity is determined by their wages. The remuneration of workers had lagged far behind the inflation rate and this had been worsened by the constant increase in fuel pump price.
“To us as Nigerians, this calls for necessary action to raise remuneration by government as state policies should be seen to impact on the living standards of the creators of the nation’s wealth.”

“We are all aware that energy is central to both production and consumption in a modern economy. This is, particularly so, for the movement of prices in a country such as Nigeria, where the level of infrastructural development is abysmal. Workers require petrol to power generators, at home as more often than not, there is no supply of electricity from Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

Food commodities have to be transported, and are also affected by price movements of petroleum products. We, however, realise that there might be cause for succor, as state governments and states across the federation, will benefit from the revenue accruing to the Nigerian state from the partial removal of fuel subsidy.”
On the excessive taxation, the council asked the governors to look into the issue, describing it as “a source of worry.” (Vanguard)

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