Subsidy removal: NULGE wants 300% pay increase, rural allowance 

In response to the impact of the prevailing harsh economic situation in the country, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, has called for the increase of  salaries of Local Government Workers by 300%,  Rural Allowance and use of $800m World bank loan for mass transit.

This was contained in a communiqué read by the National President of NULGE, Comrade Ambali Akeem Olatunji during the Regular National Executive Council, NEC sessions Thursday in Abuja and signed by the National President and the General Secretary Comrade Isah Gambo where they also requested for Rural Allowance for local workers.

The Communiqué noted, “That considering the hardship brought about by the removal of fuel subsidy on Local Government Staff, it is the position of NULGE that there should be 300% rise in the minimum wage for all Local Government workers and other public servants including private sector workers.

“Similarly, the Union demands a special Rural allowances to Local Government Staff among provisions of basic infrastructures to encourage them for serving the rural areas and to also discourage rural-urban migration”.

They further stated, “The Union commends the Governments of Edo and Imo States for blazing the trail for increasing Workers salaries from N 30,000 to N40,000. We call on other States to emulate this humane gesture while work is being concluded on the 300% rise in national minimum wage.

The Union called on the Ministry of Labour and Productivity and National Council for Establishment to establish Council 14 of the Joint Negotiating Council to comprise/accommodate NULGE, NUT and NASU who are major Unions in the public sector.

They however suggested that “government should utilize the 800mUSD World Bank loan to provide mass transit and intervention in the auto-mobile spare parts companies to discourage importation, alternate energy provision C.N.G., vocational skill acquisition centers for youth and women. ”

They also called on government to declare tax rebate/holiday for low income earners and small scale entrepreneurs as a way of encouragement to sustain their businesses. ”

They noted that, “It is the conviction of the Union that Local Government Autonomy remains the best way to return the country to the part of development and growth as this will translate to the direct funding of Local Government without Which no genuine national development can be achieved.

“The Union recommend the establishment of Local Government Police, Community Police, to address the spate of insecurity across the country” the communiqué noted.