…By Dorcas Funmi for TDPel Media.
Organized Labour Opposes Tinubu’s Plan for Palliative Payments
The organized labour in Nigeria has raised objections to the proposal put forth by the Bola Tinubu government to provide a monthly payment of N8,000 to 12 million households in order to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal.
The Federal Government had announced its intention to transfer the sum of N8,000 per month directly to the bank accounts of identified beneficiaries for a duration of six months, ultimately benefitting approximately 60 million individuals.
TUC President Criticizes Tinubu’s Approach
Festus Osifo, the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), expressed his disapproval of President Tinubu’s plans to offer palliatives to Nigerians, stating that such actions contradict the efforts of the Presidential Technical Committee on the removal of Subsidy.
Osifo argued that the President’s approach is undemocratic and suggests that the committee was established merely for appearances, with ulterior motives in mind.
He emphasized that any palliative payments should align with the agreements reached with the labour unions during the technical committee meetings.
Lack of Consultation with Organized Labour
An anonymous senior officer from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also criticized the President for not consulting with organized labour before finalizing the plan to provide palliatives to Nigerians.
The officer questioned the President’s trust and confidence in the Steering Committee, as it appears that the President already had his own budget and activities planned, undermining the credibility of the committee.
The officer further questioned the adequacy of the proposed N8,000 monthly payment for six months, highlighting concerns about whether it would make a significant impact in alleviating the suffering already endured by Nigerians.
Doubts Regarding the Efficacy of the Palliative Plan
Considering the planned payment of N8,000 per household for six months, amounting to a total of N48,000, concerns were raised about the efficacy of this approach.
Critics questioned whether this amount would adequately address the extensive suffering experienced by the poor in Nigeria and whether it would truly alleviate the consequences faced by the populace.
Skepticism arose regarding the potential for the suffering to abruptly end after the six-month period, given the magnitude of the challenges being faced by Nigerians.