– Urges FG to fulfil promise on Port Harcourt refinery
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Trade Union Congress, TUC, has urged the federal government to put an end to the casualization of Nigerian workers, as well as provide alternative energy for Nigerians, preferably compressed natural gas, to mitigate the high cost of petrol.
Speaking, the Chairman of TUC in Rivers State, Comrade Ikechukwu Foster Onyefuru, on his 2024 message, also urged the federal government to fulfill its promise to Nigerians on the resumption of production at the Port Harcourt refinery.
Onyefuru recalled that the government had assured Nigerians that the refinery would come on stream by the end of December 2023, and urged the government to work towards alleviating the suffering of the masses by making the refinery functional.
He called for improvement of workers welfare in the country, regretting that the Nigerian government has always shown unseriousness to the issues of workers welfare, the poor working conditions and insecurity challenges.
He said, “We are tired of the situation where workers are exposed to worsening health and safety situations with increased cases of occupational deaths and workplace incidents. We reject the burden of unequal pay for equal work.
“We demand an end to an order of casual workers and strongly call for decent and protection of workers. Nigerian workers must earn good salaries to ameliorate rising inflation with attendant high cost of living, consequently, we call for minimum wage upward review without further delay.
“Workers need to be comfortable, to be more productive. Every employer, both private and public sector should make their employees happy by providing a conducive environment for them to work in with commensurate pay.
“We however, call for the provision of alternative energy (CNG) to mitigate high cost of fuel. Compressed natural gas is an alternative fuel that is not only economical but also easily accessible and offers great environmental benefits. Necessary steps must be taken to accelerate the adoption of compressed natural gas that can save Nigerians 58% in energy costs.
“The Port Harcourt refinery has not come on stream as projected, we demand that the federal government should fullfil their promise to Nigerians concerning the refinery coming on stream by the end of December, 2023. Government must be responsible and work towards alleviating the suffering of the masses by making the refinery functional.”
The TUC boss in Rivers State further explained the Union’s ultimate goal was to ensure that the plight of workers was brought to the front burner, through an effective dialogue with government at all levels, to ameliorate their challenges.
He also demanded for restoration of peace in Rivers State and urge all warring parties to shield their sword and work towards the betterment of Rivers people and the state.
“Government should provide more employment opportunities for the youths, build an economic stable nation to reduce inflation and increase in foreign exchange, revive small and medium scale industries, create an enabling environment where businesses can thrive. This is without neglect to the provision of basic infrastructures including roads, electricity, and water.
“Furthermore, Nigeria in recent times has witnessed an unprecedented high level of insecurity across some states of the nation with so many people killed from the banditry attacks.
“The most recent is the massacre in Plateau state that left hundreds of person’s lifeless, where children, women harmless individuals were slaughtered like animals, we totally condemn this inhumane act and demand that urgent steps be immediately taking by government to put an end to this nightmare on Nigerian citizenry.”
