From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The organized labour on Wednesday, in Kano, vehemently kicked against salary upward review for civil servants and political office holders.
The leaders of the labour unions made their position known at Africa House, Government House, Kano, during a Public Hearing organized by the Revenue Commission.
The Chairman of the Kano chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibi and Chairman of Kano chapter of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mohammed Alkali, in one voice, called for the suspension of the proposed upward salary review for political office holders and public servants.
They lamented that Nigeria’s debt portfolio has hit N44.6 trillion, as at 2022, quoting statistics from the Debt Management Office (DMO).
The labour leaders insisted that what should rather occupy the time and attention of the Federal Government at this point in time is on how to control the upward trend of the prices of goods and services and not contemplating upward salary review for political office holders and public servants.
The TUC chairman said: “According to the Debt Management office (DMO) Nigeria’s public debt hit N44.6 trillion in the third quarter of 2022. The total debt stock comprises of domestic debt of about N26.92 trillion and external debt of about N17.5 trillion. It was reported as at December 2020. Nigeria has to spend over Nn3 trillion to service just the nation’s debts.
“Looking at these economic indicators, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria is calling for the downward review of salaries and allowances of political of public office holders.
“The time has come to make legislation a part time venture in Nigeria. I plead with the Chairman not to dump TUC’s position but to read it thoroughly and grasp the position of TUC.”
In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Kano, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, outlined the submission of the State Government at the public hearing of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
He, however, backed the upward review of public servants salaries, arguing that the current take home pay has been overtaken by the ongoing economic realities of our time.
According to him, it is mandated by law for the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission to periodically review salaries, adding that it is overdue, recalling that the last time the commission reviewed salaries was in 2008.
“The ongoing skyrocketing inflationary rate in the country has rendered the current salaries received by public office servants useless,” he added.
Others who spoke on the occasion, include, representatives from the seven North West zones, all of whom were agitating for an upward review of salaries, except NLC and TUC, while the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Shehu, presided over the public hearing.
