Comrade Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in a scathing response to the Federal Government’s proposed palliative cash transfers to the underprivileged, says the venture is structured such that it robs the poor to feed the rich.
Ajaero said in a statement, that the contentious proposal seeks to provide N8, 000 to each of the so-called 12 million poorest Nigerian households for six months, while allocating significantly higher sums to the National Assembly members and the Judiciary.
Ajaero further said that the NLC’s opposition is based on the belief that the government’s unilateral hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, was a poorly thought-out move, causing unimaginable hardship and suffering for Nigerian workers and the masses.
The government had called for dialogue in the aftermath of the price increase and subsequent nationwide industrial action, but the NLC alleges that the proposed cash transfers do not reflect genuine social dialogue or collective negotiation outcomes.
Comrade Joe Ajaero accuses the government of resorting to dictatorship and imperiousness in governance, undermining democratic principles that call for wide and deep stakeholder consultation.
The NLC had previously shown a willingness to engage with the Presidential Committee set up to assess the consequences of the PMS price hike, but the government’s actions indicate a lack of trust and confidence in the Committee’s work.
The NLC also expresses concerns over the lack of transparency in the process, especially regarding the data for the purported 12 million poorest households and the mechanisms for distributing the cash transfers.
The history of similar programs, such as the school feeding program during the Covid-19 pandemic and the Trader Moni saga, further fuel suspicions of mismanagement and misuse of public resources by government officials.
Despite the NLC’s readiness to participate in the Committees, the government has yet to inaugurate the National Steering Committee, stalling the progress of the proposed Committees. This delay, coupled with the government’s continued borrowing spree, raises suspicions among the NLC and the Nigerian public, regarding the government’s true intentions.
Comrade Joe Ajaero makes it clear that the NLC will not be a part of a charade or provide cover for the government’s actions. The NLC demands an end to the fortuitous actions disguised as palliatives and threatens to take matters into their own hands if the government does not heed their concerns and genuinely address the hardships faced by the Nigerian people.
The proposed palliative cash transfers have stirred controversy and sparked debate over the government’s commitment to social dialogue and the equitable distribution of resources. As the situation unfolds, Nigerians await the government’s response and the NLC’s potential next steps in addressing this critical issue.
