by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has inaugurated 20 Local Government Caretaker Chairmen of the 20 Local Government Areas of the state, urging the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) to support the decision of the Federal Government in the removal of subsidy, despite the hardships it has caused.
But the governor observing that, “It is bringing a lot of pains to Nigerians, but we urge the organized Labour to understand that this is for good,” and argued that subsidy became wasteful.
He was speaking, while inaugurating the 20Caretaker Chairmen in the state, held at Multi-Purpose Indoors Hall, Bauchi, on Wednesday in Bauchi State.
He stressed thus: “We have really bought into the Federal Government’s initiative to remove the subsidy because we believe it was a waste, and we believe it was not sieving the common man,” and urged the Labour to reason with the Federal Government’s decision to remove oil subsidy, adding, “It was for the good of the country.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led the Organized Labour on a nationwide protest on Wednesday to protest oil subsidy removal because of the hardship it is causing millions of Nigerians.
“These are hard times arising from the removal of subsidy,” the governor noted, and warned the Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen to judiciously use the palliative measures that would accrue to the councils as a removal of subsidy.
He charged them to come up with their own initiatives with palliatives that will touch the people, that will reduce the hardship of the people.
Governor Muhammad assured Civil Servants in the state that his administration would continue to pay salaries as at when due, and assured them that government will continue to give promotions to civil servants at the state and local government levels.
“We will continue to pay minimum wage and arrears of promotions from consequential increase, and we are the only state in this part of this country that are doing that, and we have the pride to do that,” he assured.
According to him, “We are paying pension but still, it is not uhuru,” saying that his administration had taken measures to ameliorate the suffering of the masses as a result of oil subsidy removal, while revealing that, “We have introduced subsidy on transportation, and have bought fertilizers in abundance and we have fertilizers.
“Even civil servants are being given fertilizer on loan, and we are going to key into the Federal Government’s initiative of bringing fertilizer and other grains, because when they are brought to Bauchi, be rest assured that there shall be justice and equity in the distribution,” he assured.
Meanwhile, the Organised Labour in Bauchi State has joined the nationwide peaceful protest over the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmad Tinubu. They also accused the president for implementing “anti-people policy,” which brought untold hardship to the people in the country.
Members of the Organized Labour commenced the procession from Nigeria Labour Congress NLC House, along Railway Road, to Bauchi Emirs Palace and terminated at State Secretariat.
Speaking to newsmen, Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress Bauchi State Council, Comrade Dauda Shuaibu, called on Federal Government to implement the agreement signed with Trade Union Congress, TUC.
Comrade Dauda Shuaibu said other demands of the Organised Labour include the immediate reversal of recent increase of fuel pump price as well as release of eight months’ salaries of Universities lectures, among others.
According to him, failure of government to meet their demands the Labour would have no other option than industrial action.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of Trade Union Congress, Comrade Sabiu Barau, said the union would continue with the struggle until their demands are made, and called on government to act fast before it became too late.
Responding, on behalf of Governor Bala Muhammad, the State Head of Service, Alh Yahuza Adamu Ningi, said government is aware with the difficult situations people found themselves as a result of removal of fuel subsidy.
Yahuza Adamu promised to forward their letter to Governor Bala Muhammad for onward submission to the President.
He explained that the State Government would soon start distribution of palliatives to people as part of effort to cushion the hardship being faced as result of removal of fuel subsidy.
Our correspondent reports that, the members of Labour were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions such as: “Enough is enough;” “Repair our refineries before removal of subsidy,” among others.
