By Victor Ahiuma-young

TRADE Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, weekend expressed concern over the Federal Government’s position on fuel subsidy in the 2016 budget proposal and called on the government to organise a stakeholders’ meeting to address the issue.

The body however, commended the Government for the N6.08 trillion 2016 budget announced last Tuesday, contending that if well implemented, Nigeria would surely be on the path to greatness again.

TUC none the less, noted that the proposed deficit financing at N2.22 trillion was certainly on the high side, arguing that this could be reduced by the recovery of stolen funds.

In a statement by TUC’s President and Secretary General, Bobboi Kagaima and Musa Lawal, respectively, it insisted that “Congress is however worried that our challenge as a country with regards to national budget is not how to propose, draft or present a good budget, but its implementation. We are also worried that about N1.8 trillion will be borrowed to fund the budget. The decision to recruit 500,000 unemployed graduates and National Certificate of Education (NCE) holders as teachers to curb the escalating rate of unemployment and to ensure that all the Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are captured and brought under the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) are laudable ideas. The move will not only reduce the burden of manual preparation of payrolls but also curb cases of sharp practices in the system.”

and will also help to compile the list of the less-privileged to implement better transfer programme. We urge that the policy be made transparent and inclusive without discrimination.

“Additionally, we are still not comfortable with the decision of government on subsidy. The Congress therefore demand for a stakeholders’ meeting which include labour to discuss the subsidy issue and why it has become impossible for us to refine and purchase fuel for as low as N50 per litre. The price of crude oil in the international market has dropped drastically. This should have a direct effect on domestic consumption of the product.”