WORKERS’ DAY: Labour Seeks Review Of Retirement Age For Public Servants
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Organised Labour today demanded the review of retirement age for all public servants from 60 to 65 years and from 35 years to 40 years of service.
They made the demand during this year’s Workers’ Day Celebration with the theme, ‘Workers’ Rights and Socioeconomic Justice’.
The affiliate unions that converged on the Eagle Square Abuja in commemoration of the 2023 May Day Celebration were past and present leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The unions also demanded that an independent panel be set up to investigate the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu and his team over their conduct in the 2023 general elections.
The body demanded an investigation into the sending of N12bn by the Ministry of Aviation to buy ten fire trucks.
Addressing Minister of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero said equity, fairness and justice underpins the survival of societies and creates resilience for nations in the midst of upheavals and turbulence, noting that Nigeria needs the presence of this mass to jump start the process of development.
He said poor wages, abuse of workplace rights and privileges as well as unpaid salaries strip workers of their rights.
On his part, the President of the TUC, Comrade Festus Osifo decried the state of the economy, which according to him is on auto pilot, struggling to survive while those engaged to manage it have kept throwing filth and injecting toxins into it.
He described as unfortunate, a situation which the country is led by men and women who delight in enacting policies that are detrimental to the progress of the nation, including the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) currency redesigning policy.
Present at the event are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello; and the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen.
The candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi was also in attendance.
This year’s May Day celebration will be the last to be held under President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.
