Emmanuel Ukudolo
December 25, 2015 – Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has commended the Federal Government for the N6.08 trillion 2016 budget.
But in a statement President and Secretary of TUC, Comrades Bobboi Kaigama and Musa Lawa however observed that what is needed is implementation.
“We are also worried that about N1.8 trn will be borrowed to fund the budget. The decision to recruit 500,000 unemployed graduates and National Certificate of Education (NCE) holders as teachers to curb the escalating rate of unemployment and to ensure that all the federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are captured and brought under the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) are laudable ideas.
“The move will not only reduce the burden of manual preparation of payrolls but also curb cases of sharp practices in the system and will also help to compile the list of the less-privileged in order to implement better transfer programme. We urge that the policy be made transparent and inclusive without discrimination.
“Additionally, we are still not comfortable with the decision of government on subsidy. The Congress therefore demand for a stakeholders’ meeting which include labour to discuss the subsidy issue and why it has become impossible for us to refine and purchase fuel for as low as N50 per litre. The price of crude oil in the international market had dropped drastically. This should have a direct effect on domestic consumption of the product”, TUC said.
It noted that the proposed deficit financing of ₦2.22 trillion is certainly on the high side and called for its reduction with recovered stolen funds .
“We therefore support the government to use looted funds for the benefit of Nigerians.
“The budget is a good one as has addressed majors issues that could change the life of a common man but implementation is our fear. We believe if the budget is properly implemented Nigeria is surely on the path to greatness again”, TUC said.
