Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday met with top labour leaders in the state, appealing to them that the recent removal of fuel subsidy had been done in good faith to curb further damage to the economy.
The appeal was coming after the governor approved the immediate reduction of workdays for the workforce in the state to lessen the impact of the subsidy removal on their earnings.
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye stated that the removal of subsidy was a painful decision that the government had to take in the larger interest of the country.
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“It is the cheapest and most sustainable option available to curb criminal bleeding of the resources at the expense of the larger public,” Governor AbdulRazaq added.
He maintained that the subsidy regime means Nigeria is running a deficit budget that would continue hurting economic growth and make the citizens poorer.
He said: “The country was having to borrow to feed a tiny few, while important things like infrastructural development, industrial growth, and job creation received lesser resources.
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“Now that subsidy has been removed as there is no provision for it in the budget anymore, the government is open to veritable ideas from the labour unions on how to redirect the savings for maximum public benefit, including pay rise.
“Mr. President and all of us (Governors) acknowledge the short-term pains that come with the development, but we are committed to making sure that the interest of the workers and the Nigerian people is protected.”
State NLC Chairman, Comrade Muritala Saheed Olayinka, said the call for such a meeting shows good leadership on the part of the Governor.
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He agreed with AbdulRazaq that dialogue is better than strike action at this time, urging the Governor to use his good office as NGF Chairman to intervene in the national issue for amicable resolutions.
“As said by you, we know there is a little misunderstanding between the leadership of NLC and the representatives of the federal government. We have discussed it holistically within ourselves at the state level that when a negotiation is ongoing, it doesn’t call for strike demonstration,” he said.
Earlier, the state TUC Chairman, Comrade Joseph Tunde Meshach, said engagement and dialogue are the best options to resolve the issues.
He appealed to the government to be sincere as they go about the discussion of a new minimum wage for workers and palliatives for the poor masses.
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