The organised labour has strongly rejected President Tinubu’s plan to distribute N500 billion as palliative to 12 million household, saying that cash distribution is not what Nigerians need to survive the prevailing economic hardship.
President Tinubu had on Tuesday written the House of Representatives, seeking for the half a trillion naira to cushion the effect of the biting economic turmoil meted onNigerians by fuel subsidy removal. The President his letter to the Green Chamber propose to give N8,000 to 12 million households within six months.
Reacting to the President move, the Association Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria National President, Comrade Tommy Etim Okon, said President Tinubu should wait for the outcome of the Committee he set earlier to dialogue with the organised labour and come up with appropriate palliative and best method of carrying out the implementation of what ever is agreed. He added that any action of Mr President contrary that will not work. “We reject and will resist this plan.” He added.
His words in full; “It is unfortunate that we are having people in power that does not understand how the economy works. The Presidential Committee set up to look at the issues surrounding the removal of oil subsidy has not concluded the report. The Committee has not come out with collective bargaining agreement with the organized labour and government has gone ahead to decide what to give to what they tagged 12 million poor Nigerians.
“How do they determine the poor 12 million household in Nigeria? What parameter will the government use to distribute the money?
“Government should stop acting on the felt need, rather it act on the action needs of the people.
“As far as we are concerned, this move is economic somersault. Because if actually the mean well for the economy, they will think of what to put into the economy that will bring about a positive impact on the economy, not to distribute money.
“Who told him that giving N8,000 to few households in Nigeria will scratch the economy hardship those households face let alone make any meaningful impact. The last administration engaged in this same scam and even come up with what they call school feeding programs. And fed even the children of the families in quote even when they were in holiday.
“I think it’s high time this government understood that Nigerians are not fools. How can you just wake up and just saying what does not just make meaning to hundreds if millions of Nigerians as if the people you are dishing such sinking statements to does not have sense nor reasons.
“How can you say you want to give N8,000 to 12 million families monthly for six months because of the removal of subsidies, and you are talking about 500 billion naira. That is not the problem of Nigerians now. The problem of Nigerians is coming up with one will solve the socioeconomic economic problems.
“Is it with the hyper inflation that you are telling us you will give somebody N8,000. What does N8,000 worth in the market today. Did the President know how much a cup or garri is sold, did he know how much a loaf of bread is sold? Honestly speaking this is annoying.
“The President and his team should not be taking us for a ride. He should look at other clime and emulate hoe things are being done to move a country forward and better the living condition of the Nigerians.
“If you start sharing money without looking at the problem on ground, is that the solution? In economic development, you don’t act on felt need because that is not what people want.
“Instead of government to think of how to put the necessary infrastructure on ground to solve the problem, they are unfortunately thinking that distributing money to people will solve the problem. How on earth can that solve the problem when worker, retirees are wallowing in poverty. No thus can’t work. This move is a no for Nigerian workers.
“Again, the Presidential Committee that was set up by the President himself to look at what to do to solve the impact of the removal of oil subsidy work is still in progress. They have not concluded the report. So where is he coming from? It therefore mean that he is not planing to take the outcome of the Committee’s report seriously.
“He should have allowed the committee to finish your work and submit the report, then look at what is agreed. This his approach will not work. He should know it now. Those close to him should advice him because this way he want to go will not be fruitful at all.
“So the organized labour frown at this move. We call on the President to wait till for the outcome of the discussion of the Committee he set up to work before he commence any form of implementation. Otherwise his plans will not work if the right thing is not done.”
