Lagos – The Non-Academic Staff Union of Associated and Educational Institutions on Thursday advised the Federal Government to constitute a team to find a lasting solution to the economic challenges plaguing the nation.
The General Secretary of the union, Mr Peters Adeyemi, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He spoke to NAN on the sidelines of the union’s Schools and Colleges Trade Group Council Meeting holding in Lagos.
Adeyemi said that the current state of economy was putting untold hardships on Nigerian workers.
He said the team could help the government to diversify the economy, instead of relying solely on the oil and gas sector.
The scribe highlighted some of the challenges facing the country, naming them as unstable power, depreciation of the naira and persistent fuel scarcity.
He, however, commended the Federal Government for taking necessary measures to tackle the challenges.
“The government needs to do more by urgently setting up an economic team to find solutions to the problems confronting our economy.
“The minimum wage has been devalued by more than 100 per cent looking at the current exchange rate of dollar.
“Nigerians do not have electricity the way they get the bill.
“Government needs to beam its search light on the electricity distribution companies and uncover a lot of mismanagement going on there.
“Our political office holders, ministers, governors and president should remember the promise they made to us during their campaign in 2015.’’
Adeyemi also commended the some State Governments, especially Lagos State, for paying workers as at when due.
He urged other State Governments, owing workers to have a rethink and pay up their outstanding debts.
“We commend all the State Government that are paying workers salaries as at when due.
“But to others, we urge them to stop making life unbearable for their workers.
“Prices of food, transportation, housing, fuel and school fees have gone up; the value of our currency has been destroyed and some government owe workers up to five months salaries.
Adeyemi also urged employers to treat their employees with respect to ensure peaceful atmosphere in the workplace. (NAN)
