Subsidy Removal: NULGE demands 300 per cent minimum wage increment

Due to the inflation brought on by the loss of the fuel subsidy, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, or NULGE, has called for a 300 percent increase in the minimum wage for workers across all sectors.

This was stated in a communique that Mr. Ambali Olatunji, the national president of NULGE, and Mr. Isah Gambo, the union’s general secretary, jointly signed after the NEC’s regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

According to Olatunji, the 300 percent increase was necessary since the withdrawal of the fuel subsidy had resulted in inflation.

He claims that NULGE supports a 300 percent increase in the minimum wage for all employees of local governments and other public agencies, including those employed in the private sector.

Olatunji added that the Ministry of Special Duty should urgently establish a special intervention fund to address the aforementioned issues with social welfare and infrastructure decline.

According to the NUGLE boss, the proposed fund should be able to support initiatives and plans in collaboration with local authorities.

In addition, he urged the federal government to create a separate organization that would work with local government administration to manage the fund for the improvement and transformation of rural areas.

However, he acknowledged the efforts made by the national and state governments to lessen the impact of economic policies on the populace.

In order to meet the needs of the general public for transportation, Olatunji also asked the government to use the 800 million dollars from the World Bank to offer mass transit and other initiatives, particularly in the auto-mobile spare parts businesses.

In order to support and encourage small business owners and low-income earners, he also suggested that the government grant tax breaks and refunds to them.

He added that, “It is the conviction of the union that autonomy for local governments remains the best way to return the country to the part of development and growth.

“This will translate to the direct funding of local governments without which no genuine national development can be achieved.”