· As FG reduces workdays to three per week
· Workers demand N100,000 minimum wage
Federal government workers have adjusted their workdays to three per week due to the high transportation cost occasioned by fuel subsidy removal.
New National Star exclusively obtained an internal memo directing staff of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) to work out some internal arrangement where they can skip some days off the week due to the high cost of transportation to and from office.
Recall that lecturers under the aegis of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union last week in a press statement issued by its national president, Dr Sam Olugbeko announced that its members would only go to their respective campuses twice weekly till the government addresses the issues caused by the removal of subsidy which according to the union has caused untold hardship to its members.
As the federal government frustrated moves by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on strike with an injunction from the Industrial Court, MDA now resorted to internal arrangement where staff will skip some working days to cushion the harsh effect of the subsidy removal.
According to a memo, raised by the Public Complaints Commission, with number PCC/HQ/ADM:14/275, dated 18th July, 2023 and signed by Hajiya S. J. Mamman, Sec. to the Commission, staff were directed to come to work on Mondays and work out within themselves any two other days they will be at the office so as to reduce the burden of transportations and other harsh economic realities associated with the subsidy removal.
The memo noted that the arrangement will continue to be in place until the situation improves.
It reads, “Due to the recent fuel increase which represents fifteen per cent (15%) from the amount we have been buying since the inception of this regime with its attendant consequences on everybody in Nigeria and our staff in particular.
“I am directed to request you to work out a work plan and attendance structure that will enable staff to work painstakingly. The office should be into two (2) teams, for equitable interchange within the week with Mondays being general attendance for everyone. This is to ameliorate the hardship being faced by staff due to the fuel subsidy removal.
“This arrangement will last till the situation improves.
“Please, accept the Honourable Chief Commissioners esteemed regards.
“Hajiya S. J. Mamman, FCIA Sec. to the Commission”.
New National Star further learnt that the above arrangement was also adopted by other agencies of government.
A staff of National Library of Nigeria who wished to remain anonymous told our reporter that the same arrangement is in place in her place of work.
She said, “We only go to work three times a week. There is no way we can continue to go to work every day when transport fare and other costs have doubled, and the federal government is reluctant to increase our salary.
“The office worked out an arrangement where staff will be alternating among themselves when to come to work and cover the duties of those that will not come”.
Also collaborating the situation, Danjuma Bahago, who works with the Federal Ministry of Interior, told our reporter that he has not been to work in the last five days.
“How much is my salary, that the government will expect me to be coming to work every day? I have not gone to work in the last five days. If the government needs our services, then they know what to do.
“Tinubu’s government thought that they are sharp and got an injunction restraining NLC from embarking on industrial action. You can force a horse to the stream, but you cannot force it to drink water. They have their way now, but they cannot compel me to trek from Masaka to Federal Secretariat.
“If they want us to come to work, then they should increase our salary and make the minimum wage N100,000.00,” Bahago demanded.
You may wish to not that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the inaugural speech on the 29th of May, announced that “subsidy is gone”, a statement that compelled Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited to increase petroleum pump price from N195 to N537 and further to N917 which is about 300 percent increase within 60 days.