Workers blame low-key celebration on non-payment of salary

HISTORICALLY, Government workers often receive their salaries if celebrations fall within few days before the end of the month but the last week Sallah celebration was an exception to this rule.

Most workers in Abuja hope of receiving their salaries before Friday last week were dashed as the Federal Government shunned this age-long tradition. The non-payment of salaries also led to the unsold of wares, food items and also prevented many intended travellers to stay back in Abuja.

Indeed, most Ram sellers who had migrated from the far north to Abuja lamented the slow sale. In a bid to find short cut to the slow market, they opted to sell well beyond the cost price while Muslims also decided to buy Rams late Friday in order to escape the high costs of Rams.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has charged Muslims to use the occasion to renew their commitment to the development of the Nigerian project.
The President of Congress, Ayuba Wabba, in a statement in Abuja, said Eid-el-Mubarak represents unconditional obedience to our Creator, sacrifice, adherence to higher moral values and show of love to friends and families through sharing.

He added: “The occasion of Eid-el-Kabir affords us an opportunity to reconcile with God, re-assess our personal and official lives and how these impact on the nation. The Eid similarly avails us a great chance to renew our commitment to the Nigerian project by fighting the vices that bedevil it. For instance, corruption is a cankerworm that threatens our individual and national well-being. Our fight against it should be total, wholistic and relentless, irrespective of whose ox is gored. As we have stated previously, the anti-graft agencies should be strengthened, empowered and given all the resources and independence they need to confront corruption in the land.

Security continues to be an issue. Thousands of lives have been lost and inestimable properties destroyed. Millions have been displaced and their lives altered forever. We nonetheless endorse the strategies adopted by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, which are beginning to yield results for which he deserves commendation. These efforts can only make sustainable impact only if we give Mr. President the needed support.

Wabba lamented the high cost of governance, saying, “It negatively impacts on the fortunes of the nation. The impact is more profound at this point in time when the fall in the prices of oil products in the international market have compounded the performance of the economy. It is an opportune time for Nigerians in all spheres of life, especially in public life to demonstrate the necessary sacrifice to the nation. Forfeiting half of their salaries alone as some of them have done, as commendable as it is, is not enough. They must learn to forfeit those invisible but criminal allowances and indulgences that balloon the cost of governance.”

He reiterated that NLC will continue to call for the diversification of the economy as a surer path to putting the economy on a strong footing.

While lauding the steps taken so far by the Federal Government to revamp the economy, Wabba noted that it is important that as part of the strategy for earning and conserving foreign exchange and generally rebuilding our economy, that government put in place necessary legislations, policies and programmes for building new refineries or boosting the local production of petroleum products.