In anticipation of today’s May Day celebration, federal and state civil servants yesterday reeled out what they expect as workers from President Bola Tinubu and the governors.
May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day or Labour Day, is celebrated on May 1 of every year to honour the working class worldwide.
The civil servants, who spoke in Ibadan, Oyo State, called on the federal government to urgently review its monetary policy to reduce the current high inflation rate.
According to them, if the government does not check the inflation rate, it may erode the gains of the new minimum wage expected by Nigerian workers.
They also sought quick completion of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
The workers further stated that the government should encourage the private building of modular refineries so that periodic fuel scarcity in the country would be a thing of the past.
They also expressed concern over the security challenges currently confronting the country, manifesting through banditry, kidnappings, and ritual killings, among others, all of which, they said, had been threatening the nation’s peace and security.
The workers pleaded with the Federal Government to find lasting solutions to the country’s age-long electricity challenge, noting that the lack of stable electricity had obstructed Nigeria’s progress.
a federal civil servant, John Abidakun called on the Tinubu-led administration to look inward and revisit its monetary policy to address the current inflation rate.
READ ALSO:Tinubu approves salary increase for civil servants
Abidakun decried the current inflation rate, saying that an urgent step was needed to combat it, “otherwise, the pending new minimum wage will be meaningless when it is finally implemented.”
To Abibat Olasode, who works in one of the paramilitary agencies, the federal government should rely less on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank’s economic advice.
Olasode noted that the high inflation rate in the country, which had worsened the living conditions of many Nigerians, might not be unconnected with wrong advice by the world financial organisations.
She called on the government to rejig the nation’s security architecture by allocating adequate funds for the purchase of modern weapons and motivating security personnel to enhance their operations.
Ibukun Jolayemi, a civil servant with the Oyo government, called for the completion of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries without delay, saying workers could no longer cope with the high cost of transportation due to a hike in fuel prices.
Jolayemi urged the government to give licences to investors interested in building modular refineries and provide a conducive environment for them to operate.
A public servant, Dayo Ogundare, said that his expectation from the government was not to increase the minimum wage but to make policies that would enhance the country’s economic growth.
According to Ogundare, fixing the electricity problem alone will have positive impacts on the economy, thus boosting the economic conditions of those who depend on electricity to operate their businesses.
He urged the president to do everything he could to address all the power sector’s challenges. He added that Nigerians would appreciate him if they could have an uninterrupted power supply.
*Marketers threaten to withdraw services over alleged N200bn debt
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has threatened to cripple the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, over non-payment of N200bn bridging claims.
The threat comes following current nationwide scarcity which has seen prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, surge to between N610 and N800 at the pump, and between N1000 and N1200 at the black market.
The association’s unit chairman and spokesperson, Aba Depot, Mazi Oliver Okolo who made the threat, said it was with the backing of the IPMAN’s national leadership.
He claimed that the debt is being owed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NMDPRA).
In a communique released after a press conference on Tuesday, Okolo said NMDPRA failed to pay the N200bn debt despite a directive for payment from the Petroleum Minister (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri.
The IPMAN deport Chairman claimed that since the directive by the minister in February 2024, only N13bn had been paid to their members, saying that the unpaid claim had crippled their businesses.
“We are extremely distressed and depressed by the laidback attitude of the leadership of the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), towards the survival of our member’s businesses, arising from NMDPRA’s deliberate delay and refusal to offset the debt of over N200 Billion owed our members, which has consequently led to the deaths of many of our members and the unfortunate collapse of their businesses.”
He blamed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the sole importer of petroleum products, for the current nationwide petrol scarcity, adding that some of its members have “completely” shut down their businesses, and retrenched their employees.
“We have watched with apprehension also, the unpatriotic attitude of the leadership of the NMDPRA to offset this debt that has been accrued to us since September 2022. As businessmen and women, our members acquired bank loans to keep their fuel retail outlets running daily across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, to serve the teeming population of Nigerians.
“However, it is demoralising to know that many of our members have gone bankrupt and have become financially insolvent as a result of their inability to meet their financial obligations to their banks, arising wholly from their inability to get their monies from the NMDPRA.
“Consequently, also, the banks have taken over the business premises of many of our members. As indigenous organisations, and Depot Chairmen, we are unhappy that rather than receiving support from the government to boost our businesses, we are being discouraged, by the head of NMDPRA.
“It is noteworthy to recall and state here that at a stakeholders meeting held on the 20th of February, 2024 with Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), and the NSA Nuhu Ribadu, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Authority of NMDPRA, was mandated by Heinehken
Lokpobiri to clear the entire debt in 40 days. However today, we have crossed the 40 days time-lapse given to the NMDPRA to clear the debt, and it is shameful to state that only the paltry sum of N13 billion has been paid, thus going the whole length to ignore our plight without remorse and recourse to the Honourable Minister’s directive,” according to the statement.
Okolo also claimed that the NNPC Ltd imports the products, and supplies to private depots who then sell to them at exorbitant prices of between N820 and N950 per litre, adding that IPMAN members pay an extra N2m to transport it to other parts of the country, making it difficult for them to sell to Nigerians at the agreed pump price.
The IPMAN members called on President Bola Tinubu, to closely look into the matter, which according to them, is highly detrimental to their businesses, and reverse it forthwith, as it is bound to impact negatively on the masses thereafter.
“We see no reason why there should be an increment of over 500% on the Sales and Storage License by the NMDPRA. We reject it. We also hereby call on the federal government of Nigeria to wholly intervene forthwith in these lingering issues between the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
“We are poised to take far-reaching decisions that may cripple the supply and sales of petroleum products across Nigeria if our demands are not met within the shortest period,” the group said.
*FG approves 35% increase for civil servants
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has approved salary increases for civil servants across various consolidated salary structures.
The increase which was announced on the eve of the Workers’ Day celebration, is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Emmanuel Njoku, head of press, at the national salaries, incomes, and wages commission (NSIWC).
The statement said the increase which is between 25 per cent and 35 per cent takes effect from January 1, 2024.
It added that the augmentation applies to the six remaining consolidated salary structures, namely the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure, Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure, Consolidated Police Salary Structure, Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure, Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure, and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure.
