President Muhammadu Buhari has again proved to be a labour-friendly President with the Federal Government’s decision to remit accrued rights and benefits of federal retirees to their Retirement Savings Accounts.
The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) in a statement signed by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, noted that the move showed that the Buhari administration would not shirk its responsibility to all Nigerians in spite of the global economic crisis in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We see it as a responsible step by a President who has over the years left no doubt about his intention to make life better for the average Nigerian.
“There was no way President Buhari would tolerate a situation where Covid-19 or unstable oil prices would be an excuse to deny Nigeria’s senior citizens and retirees their rights and benefits.
“We also recall that when the pandemic first broke, one of the first directives the President issued to a Presidential Committee to review the impact of coronavirus on the economy was that workers salaries should not be affected.
“This was at a time that some opposition figures were suggesting a 50% cut in workers pay, but what they didn’t seem to understand was that this President is not one that will willingly subject the Nigerian workforce or the masses to hardship,” the group added.
BMO also commended the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for acknowledging that the decision came at an economically difficult time.
“We recognise that this is not the first time that NLC would be hailing the Buhari administration for its friendly disposition to workers.
“There is also a long list of initiatives that have earned rare accolades from the Organized Labour; ranging from the settlement of pension and gratuity arrears of staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways to the payment of pension claims of retired Biafra policemen, in spite of a paucity of funds.
“But we need to remind labour leaders that the latest one is a reflection of a directive that measures would be put in place to protect the vulnerable population at this time.”
BMO consequently reassured the NLC and other Nigerians to expect more labour-friendly initiatives in spite of the adverse impact of the pandemic on the world economy.