Subsidy Removal: Union of Local Government Employees demand 300 per cent minimum wage increment
BY BABAGANA JIDDA KANEMPRESS
21TH JULY, 2023
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, has called for a 300 percent increment minimum wage for workers across all sectors due to the inflation caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.
NULGE National President, Mr Ambali Olatunji, said this in a communique, at the end of its regular National Executive Council, NEC, meeting on Thursday in Abuja.
Olatunji described the 300 per cent rise as imperative considering the inflation necessitated by the removal of fuel subsidy.
According to Olatunji, it is the position of NULGE that there should be a 300 per cent rise in the minimum wage for all Local Government workers and other public servants, including private sector workers.
He also said that government, as a matter of urgency, should create a special intervention fund to take care of aforementioned social welfare and infrastructural decay through the Ministry of Special Duty.
The NUGLE boss said in his opinion that the proposed fund should be able to cater for projects and programmes in conjunction with local government.
Olatunji called on the federal government to establish a special agency to collaborate with the local government administration in administering the fund for the development and the transformation of the rural areas.
He acknowledged the efforts of federal and state governments to cushion the effect of the economic policies on citizens.
Olatunji also urged the government to utilise the 800 million dollars from World Bank to provide mass transit and other interventions especially in the auto-mobile spare parts companies, to cater for the transport needs of the masses.
He also advised the government to give tax rebates/holidays for low income earners and small scale entrepreneurs.
“It is the conviction of the union that autonomy for local governments remains the best way to return the country to the part of development and growth” Olatunji pointed out.
“This will translate to the direct funding of local governments without which no genuine national development can be achieved,” he concluded.
