Subsidy removal: Kwara workers’ll work three days in a week, says govt

The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has approved the reduction of workdays for the workforce in the state.

The development is meant to lessen the impact of the subsidy removal on the state workers’ earnings.

The governor also met with top labour leaders in the state, appealing to them that the removal of fuel subsidy was done in good faith to prevent further harm on the economy.

The labour union leaders were led to the meeting by the Head of Service, Mrs Susan Oluwole.

A statement on Monday by the the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said,  “Civil servants will now work for three days in Kwara State, as against the current five days. Civil service authorities are expected to release further guidance on the measure, including how it affects health workers and teachers.

“Removal of subsidy is a painful decision that the government had to take in the larger interest of the country. ‘It is the cheapest and most sustainable option available to curb criminal bleeding of the resources at the expense of the larger public,’ according to an excerpt of the governor’s address to the Labour leaders.

“Subsidy regime means Nigeria is running a deficit budget that continues to hurt economic growth and make people poorer. The country had to borrow to feed a tiny few, while important things like infrastructural development, industrial growth, and job creation received lesser resources.

“Now that subsidy has been removed as there is no provision for it in the budget anymore, the government is open to veritable ideas from the labour unions on how to redirect the savings for maximum public benefit, including pay rise.

“Mr President and all of us (governors) acknowledge the short-term pains that come with the development, but we are committed to making sure that the interest of the workers and the Nigerian people are protected.”

The state NLC Chairman, Muritala Olayinka, said dialogue is better than strike action at this time, urging the governor to use his good office as Nigeria Governors’ Forum Chairman to intervene in the national issue for amicable resolutions.

“We know there is a little misunderstanding between the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress and the representatives of the Federal Government. We have discussed it holistically within ourselves at the state level that when a negotiation is ongoing, it doesn’t call for strike demonstration,” he said.

The State TUC Chairman, Joseph Tunde, appealed to the government to be sincere as they go about the discussion of a new minimum wage for workers and palliatives for the poor masses.