*Pix above(m): PBAT flanked by Comrades Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo(l &r)
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The Trade Union Congress (TUC) says Nigerian President Tinubu’s Government halted payment of N35,000 minimum wage after one month…just to deceive the organized labour in the fist place of its willingness to pay the wage, despite having the revenue to fulfill the commitment.
–Comrade Festus Osifo
TUC President Festus Osifo made this assertion in an interview with Arise Television on Monday.
According to TUC, the government halted the promised 6-month wage award payment after the first installment was made.
Meanwhile, the union has presented a 10-point agenda to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of its demands to the Federal Government.
Osifo emphasized that the Nigerian government possesses the necessary revenues to meet the union’s demands but lacks the will to “actually do what is right,” describing government’s earlier promises as grand deceit to hoodwink the struggling labour men.
He highlighted the significant increase in funds shared from the federation account each month, indicating the government’s capacity to address the wage issue.
Osifo pointed out the disparity between the official exchange rates, noting that the government is earning more money due to the devaluation of the currency.
Despite presenting a 10-point agenda to the government, Osifo mentioned that the agreement has not been notarized or adopted as a consent judgment in court.
Osifo urged the government to be transparent about the reasons for not taking the agreement to court and emphasized the TUC’s commitment to holding the government accountable for implementing the agreed-upon statements.
He said, “The last point in that agreement that we reached as at then contained the fact that it will be a consent judgement, but up till now, to the best information available to us, that has not been done. As at today, it’s not been placed before the court of law for it to be adopted as a consent judgement.
“But even beyond that, there are some provisions in that agreement that we felt that government, they have not implemented to the latter.”
“It is left for government to tell us the reason why they have not taken that document to court, it’s left for them. But for us, our responsibility is to hold them accountable to be sure and certain that every statement in that agreement as agreed with them must be implemented.”
The demands listed in the 10-point agenda reflect concerns about the suffering of the average Nigerian due to rising prices, inflation, fuel subsidy removal, and other economic challenges.
Osifo emphasized the need for the government to address these issues for the betterment of the lives of Nigerians./PLEASE SHARE
*Tags: PBAT, Comrade Festus Osifo, TUC
