Abuja: TUC hails plan to employ 500,000 teachers

Source: THE NATION ONLINE

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has praised the decision of the Federal Government to  hire 500,000 unemployed graduates as teachers, saying the move will curb the escalating rate of unemployment.

The union said it was still not comfortable with the position of the government on fuel subsidy removal and asked the government to call a stakeholders meeting which include labour to discuss why it has become impossible to refine and sell fuel for as low as N50 per liter.

In a statement by the National President, Bobboi Bala Kaigama and General Secretary,  Musa Lawal, the TUC said it was also impressed by the decision of the government to ensure that all the Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are captured and brought under and brought under the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) are laudable ideas.

The congress commended the Federal Government for the N6.08 trillion 2016 budget announced last Tuesday, but said it was worried that “our challenge as a country as regards national budget is not how to propose, draft or present a good budget but its implementation. We are also worried that about N1.8 trn of the budget 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.

“The proposed deficit financing  at N2.22 trillion is certainly on the high side. This could be reduced by the recovery of 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 major 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.

“We  charge the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency warn the governors who want to sabotage the administration by saying they cannot pay ordinary N18,000 minimum wage. We dare them to try it.”