From News Editor
The National Chairman of joint National Public Service Negotiating Council JNPSNC (Trade Union Side) Comrade Benjamin Anthony has called for urgent tax waivers and relief measures to assist Nigerians especially Public Servants due to deadly economic hardship.
This was contained in his address presented at the opening session of the just concluded joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC)meetings which took place at the Presidential Hotel Port Harcourt Rivers State.
Comrade Benjamin Anthony lamented that the high cost of living and the astronomical increases in goods and services have eroded dastardly the essence of New National Minimum of N70,000, hence all tiers of government must devise a potent way to mitigate this scenario through appropriate upward salary table review, tax relief and other relief measures.
According to him, the National bureau of statistics reported that, as at January 2024 the inflationary rate increased by 29.93% from 28.92%in December, 2023, the above represents an increase of 0.98% points.
“It is regrettable that the inflationary rates has affected major areas of our national life, for instance,
All items inflation rate is 32.70%
core inflation rate 27.43% and food inflationrate37.77%” he submitted
The renowned labour Leader who is also the National President of AUPCTRE, therefore strongly advocated for tax relief in order to alleviate the financial burdens on Nigeria workers while the tax waivers among other relief measures should commence immediately until such a time the economic indices of inflation might have been brought to its barest minimum.
On the issue of New National Minimum Wage of N70,000 Comrade Benjamin appreciated the Federal Government for its roles before, during and after the process that culminated in the passage of New National Minimum Wage Act 2024, the signing of the memorandum of understanding on the Consequential Adjustments of Salaries and its implementation but called on the State governments that are yet to commence negotiations and or implementation of the Minimum Wage to urgently do the needful.
In his words, “we also call on the government at all levels to ensure prompt payment of arrears of the New Minimum Wage to our members without necessarily creating an atmosphere that will make us demand for it.”
In the same vein, joint National Public Service Negotiating Council JNPSNC Trade Union Side requested for inclusion into the composition and membership of National Council on establishments, the Trade Union Side, condemned a situation where Labour representative will not be in a meeting where Matters affecting workers are being discussed which is tantamount to shaving ones head in his absence .
Earlier, the Chairperson of the Joint Council, Government side who is also the Head of Civil Service of the Federation Mrs Didi Esther Wilson-Jack who was represented by Dr (Mrs) Comfort Adeosun, the Ag. Permanent Secretary Welfare Office in the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, underscored the importance of the joint council as an avenue to generate Ideas that can promote human capital development, improve high productivity index and uplift Public Service towards its qualitative service delivery to the populace.
The highlight of the year 2024 Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council JNPSNC meetings
include but not limited to the presentation and consideration of memoranda from Trade Union Side, request for expansion of JNPSNC Trade Union from present 8 eight unions with additional unions such as parliamentary staff of Nigeria (PASSAN)
Judiciary service Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), senior staff association of corporation and government owned companies (SASCGOC) among other Unions
Others include; need for befitting constitution for the Joint Council and Government funding for Joint Council vide budget line to ensure active participation in statutory meetings involving joint council as a body in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
