The
Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have refuted
some reports that they plan to join the alleged plans by the All Progressives
Congress (APC) to mobilise Nigerian workers to demand further reduction in the
price of petroleum in line with the price downfall of crude oil in the global
market.
The
President General of the TUC, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama in a telephone interview said
while the congress strongly believes that the current price of N87 per litre
can be further reduced, it cannot join any political party in a protest.
“That
would amount to us being partisan, and we are not partisan,” he said, adding
that Nigeria is at a very critical period on the threshold of the 2015 general
election.
Kaigama,
however, reiterated the call for further reduction in the price of fuel, noting
that since the government had always hinged price hike on prices of crude oil
in the international markets, dwindling prices should also be considered for
commensurate reduction.
The
Nigeria Labour Congress also refuted the reports that it would organise or join
any planned rally to demand a reduction.
Also,
the General Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Esan, in a text message to
THISDAY said “No. At no time did we say so.”
The
NLC in a statement it released on Monday, had noted that the 10.3 per cent
price reduction is not enough, adding that the reduction should be at least 33
per cent as it was done in other countries.
Meanwhile,
the National Union of Pensioners has called on the government to ensure the
implementation and payment of 29 months arrears accrued from the recent 33 per
cent pension increase.
The
union also demanded that pension deductions be included on the first line of
charge to mitigate the challenges faced in the release of the funds.
The
union, in a statement signed by its National President Dr. Abel Afolayan and
its General Secretary, Elder Actor Zal, added that 29 months pension arrears
remains unpaid to beneficiaries.
The
said arrears is from July 2010 to September 2014, and having paid for nine
months, leaving the balance of 29 months, we hereby, urged the federal
government to honour its pledge to the union of capturing the remaining balance
of the arrears in the 2015 budget for payment.
The
union further appealed to the federal government to ensure that all
unpaid gratuities and other entitlements due to pensioners are captured in the
2015 budget.
“We wish to equally make a case that the balance of 20.4 per cent pension increase which made the total 53.4 percent increase, formally and officially approved by the federal government be immediately worked out and captured in the 2015 or in the subsequent budgets for payment,” the statement read.
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