The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to release additional bail out funds to state governors.
The Congress also lambasted them for asking for release of 50 per cent of the Paris Club loan refund, saying most were yet to account for monies they got previously.
In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and Secretary General, Comrade Musa-Lawal Ozigi, the Labour leaders lamented the plight of workers in the states and the need for urgent attention as many could barely survive.
“For us President Muhammadu Buhari was right when he expressed surprise on how some governors manage to sleep soundly when workers have not been paid their salaries for months. The president even wondered how the workers feed their families; pay their rents and the school fees of their children”, it read.
“Most of our leaders have sold out their conscience. They don’t feel our pains neither do their children and cronies. What is N18, 000 (Eighteen thousand naira) when juxtaposed with the prevailing economic realities in the country? It is a pity our governors prefer statues of foreigner to our health, children’s education, job creation and other meaningful activities that help build a strong a society.
“The confidence we had when this administration was coming on board has gradually waned. We believe in the president but he alone cannot do it. Efforts to fight corruption have become a mirage. Experts have argued that one way recession can be addressed is when the wage of workers is increased; unfortunately the last wage increase we had was in 2011.
“Though due for review but some forces who take delight in using our children as political thugs have refused. They want the status-quo to remain- (master-servant relationship). They tell us that the economy is in recession yet it does not affect them.
“Only last week some ministers made case for No Work No Pay doctrine. Their argument was that they want to check the public service workers in the country. Just imagine: how do you tell a worker that has not been paid for six months to continue to borrow to fare himself or herself to job? How do you explain it that a country that is broke still pays twitter lawmakers over N29m on a monthly basis. This is inhuman, wicked, derogatory and devilish”, the group stated.
The TUC leadership charged the Federal Government to hold on to the money until the workers and pensioners are fully paid.
“The governors are stock-piling the released fund somewhere waiting for 2019 election campaign, but we are going to surprise them. It is not going to be business as usual”, it added.
