…sets up c’ttee to review term of reference, says more allowances underway
NOSA EGHAGHA
In a bid to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, the National Economic Council (NEC), has said that it is considering the recommendations presented by the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission to pay N702 billion as Living Adjustment Allowance to workers.
Addressing the State House Correspondents after the inaugural NEC meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, said that the council deliberated extensively on the issue of the removal of fuel subsidy and its general impact on the economy.
Aside the Living Adjustment Allowance, Bala said disclosed that other interventions includes a recommended sum ranging from N23.5bn to N45bn per month as a petroleum allowance for civil servants as well as plans for upward review of salaries and wages.
“The NEC had receive recommendations on the various ways and means that the country can use whatever increases that we have in the revenue to mitigate the impact that this is going to make on the lives of our workers.
“And so they recommended that there should be a consequential adjustment, estimated at N702.92bn as part of the allowances that should be given as petroleum allowance to all workers and as well as a N23 or N25bn monthly offer to cushion the effect on workers.”
Speaking further, Bala said the council also received other suggestions to review salaries and wages.
“In addition to the palliative, the government looked at all the issues, challenges and problems holistically and set up a small committee of the council to review and come up with a term of reference to organise areas specifically where this palliative can come from and how it will be dispensed to alleviate the problem of workers and other vulnerable groups,” Mohammed explained.
Members of the committee include the Governor of Kebbi State as Chairman; Anambra representing the South-East geopolitical zone; Governor of Benue, North-Central; Governor of Kaduna, North-West; Governor of Cross River, South-South; Oyo, South-West; and the Bauchi State Governor representing the North-East.
“Other relevant agencies in the committee are the Budget Office, representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Rukayat El-Rufai.
“We will sit within two weeks to come up with a recommendation to NEC for a holistic decision that will be taken immediately to alleviate the problem that is being encountered by the removal of the subsidy,” the Bauchi Governor explained.
He said the input of the committee on palliatives earlier set up and headed by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would not be discarded but integrated into the ongoing process.
