By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
The governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has pleaded with top labour leaders in the state to embrace the theory of dialogue rather than embarking on strike action over the fuel subsidy removal.
The governor, who is also the current Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, at a meeting with the labour leaders at the Government House, Ilorin, said that the recent removal of fuel subsidy had been done in good faith to curb further damages to the country’s economy.
He said, “ The removal of subsidy is definitely a painful decision that the government had to take in the larger interest of the country. It is the cheapest and most sustainable option available to curb criminal bleeding of the resources at the expense of the larger public.
“Subsidy regime means Nigeria is running a deficit budget that continues to hurt economic growth and make people poorer. The country was having to borrow to feed a tiny few, while important things like infrastructural development, industrial growth, job creation receive lesser resources.
“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 benefits, including pay rise.
“Mr. President and all of us (the governors) really 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.”
The state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Muritala Saheed Olayinka, praised the governor for calling such a meeting, which he said was a sign of good leadership on the part of the governor.
He agreed with AbdulRazaq that dialogue is always better than strike actions at this time, urging the governor to use his good office as the NGF chairman to intervene in the fuel subsidy removal, which is now a national issue in order to arrive at amicable resolutions.
He said, “As said by you, we know there is a little misunderstanding between the leadership of the 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 or demonstrations.”
Also, the chairman of the state Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Joseph Tunde Meshach said that engagement and dialogue are the best options to resolve current the issue.
He appealed to the government to be sincere as they go about the discussions of a new minimum wage for workers, as well as the palliatives for the poor masses.
Meanwhile, the governor had earlier approved immediate reduction of workdays for the workforce in the state to lessen the impact of the subsidy removal on their earnings.
Civil servants will now work for three days in Kwara State, as against the current five days. Civil service authorities are expected to release further guidance on the measure, including how it affects health workers and teachers.
Present at the meeting were the NLC chairman, Comrade Olayinka; TUC chairman, Comrade Meshach; chairman of the Kwara State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Ola Ahmad; chairman National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners Association, NAGGMDP, Dr. Yusuf Amuda; vice chairman, National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers, NUPPPPROW, Comrade Mrs. Medinat Jimoh.
Others were the representatives of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, among others. The workers were led to the meeting by the state Head of Service, HoS, Mrs Susan Modupe Oluwole.
