Mohammed Shosanya
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria,TUC,has implored the federal government to increase minimum wage of workers to N200,000 before the end of this month.
This should also go with consequential adjustment on Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), like feeding, transport, housing, its President,Comrade (Engr) Festus Osifo and Secretary-General,Comrade Nuhu Abba Toro,said this in its the federal government at the subsidy removal meeting on Sunday.
It said,a representative of state governors will be party to this communique and all the governors must commit to implement the new minimum wage.
According to the Congress,tax holiday for employees both in government and private sector that earn less than N200,000 or 500USD monthly whichever is higher,while Premium Motors Spirit Allowance to be introduced for those earning between N200,000 to N500,000 or 500USD to 1,200USD whichever is higher.
It also said,the exchange rate for retailing PMS in the country must be kept within a limit of +- 2% for the next ten (10) years where the fluctuation is more that 2%, the minimum wage will automatically increase at the same rate.
It advised the government to set up intervention fund where government will be paying N10 per liter on all locally consumed PMS.
It explained that the primary purpose of this fund is to solve perennial and protracted national issues in education, health and housing,adding that agovernance structure that will include labour, civil society and government will be put in place to manage the implementation.
It said the federal government should provide mass transit vehicles for all categories of the populace.
It advised state governments to immediately set up a subsidized transportation system to reduce the pressure on workers and students. The framework around this will be worked out.
The Congress emphasized the need for Immediate review of the National Health Insurance Scheme to cover more Nigerians and prevent out of stock of drugs.
There was need for visitation of the refineries that are currently undergoing rehabilitation to ascertain state of work and setting up timeline for its completion,adding that the president should direct his labour minister to immediately constitute the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC).
This platform will be used by government, Labour and employer to discuss issues and policies of government that may affect workers and all other mandate as specified in the law,it added.
There should be provision of subsidy directly for food items,adding that the existing National Housing Fund (NHF) should be made accessible to genuine workers; the framework on this must be discussed and agreed.
The Congress advocated the need for deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) across the country in line with the earlier promise made by government.
The framework and timeline will be developed and agreed by both parties,it said.
According to the Congress, Labour and government should design a framework that will be geared towards the reduction of cost of governance by 15% in 2024 and 30% by 2025.
It advised that a framework should be immediately put in place to maintain the road and expand the rail networks across the country.
Government,it said,must design a framework for social housing policy for workers through Rent to Own System,while the state of electricity in the country must be appraised and an action plan should be defined with time lines on how to get this fixed.