TUC to FG: Pay wage award for March, April

The Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Thursday, warned the Federal Government not to test the patience of workers over delay in the payment of N35,000 wage award being paid to cushion the effects of subsidy removal. The Congress also lampooned the government over the current fuel scarcity in the country, saying the insincerity of government […]

The Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Thursday, warned the Federal Government not to test the patience of workers over delay in the payment of N35,000 wage award being paid to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.

The Congress also lampooned the government over the current fuel scarcity in the country, saying the insincerity of government in making the Port Harcourt refinery work is causing difficulty being faced by Nigerians at different filling stations.

TUC President, Festus Osifo, who stated these at a press briefing shortly after their National Executive Council (NEC), meeting in Abuja, charged the government to release the payments of wage award for the months of March and April with immediate effect.

According to him, the last wage award that was paid to the federal workers was in February and that of March and April, which is just ending is yet to be paid.

• School clinic accused of negligence as pregant Ogun Poly student dies
• 155 killed in Tanzania after heavy rains, many dead in Kenya

“We call on government to immediately release the payments of wage awards for March and April 2024. This is to ensure that at the end of the month, when salaries are coming in, the wage award will also be paid and this will be until a new minimum wage is put in place,” he said.

Osifo, also expressed concern that while a few states were up and doing regarding the payment of the wage award, some others were not.

The TUC president listed Imo, Delta, Benue, Katsina, Kebbi, and Anambra among others as some of the States that were lagging behind in spite of the huge allocations from the federation account, noting that in the next coming days, they will be engaging these states that have done nothing.

Osifo also berated the government over its unilateral decision to increase electricity tariffs without consultation with stakeholders, while calling on the government to rescind implementation in the interest of the suffering masses.