Civil servants in Kwara State, on Monday, heaved a sigh of relief as the state government announced a reduction in working days from five to three days.
The measure was taken by the state government to cushion the effect of the astronomical hike in the transport fare, following the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government. At the moment in Kwara State, fuel costs N515, per litre.
Some civil servants who spoke with me said the reduction in the number of working days will reduce the subsidy removal- induced hardship.
Both Malam Dauda Lawal of the State Universal Basic Education Board and Ramat Ajia of the Ministry of Education, thanked the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his thoughtfulness in reducing the number of working days. They described the measure as helpful, humane and a welcome development.
The state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Murtala Olayinka noted that reduction in working days to three, is a welcome development as it would reduce cost of transport spending for civil servants.
“We thank the state governor for feeling the pains of civil servants. But, beyond that, we want the government to immediately approve the N30,000 minimum wage consequential adjustments for the pensioners in the state. We have been making this demand for sometime now.”
He also remarked that the federal government should increase workers salaries.
The statement that broke the cheery news of reduced work days was signed by Murtala Atoyebi, the press secretary to the state’s Head of Service, Mrs Susan Oluwole and thus: “The Kwara State Government has taken temporary measures to ease the burden of public workers in the state following the astronomical hike in transport fare.
” The State Head of Service, Mrs Susan Modupe Oluwole announced today (Monday) that the State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has directed that the work days be reduced from five days to three days per week for every worker.
“She explained that the measure was to relieve the state workers of the hardship being experienced, as a result of the fuel subsidy removal announced by the Federal Government.”
At a meeting on Monday with leaders of labour unions, Governor AbdulRazaq appealed to them that recent removal of fuel subsidy was done in good faith to curb further damage to the economy.
“Removal of subsidy is definitely a painful decision that the government had to take in the larger interest of the country. It is the cheapest and most sustainable option available to curb criminal bleeding of resources at the expense of the larger public.
“Subsidy regime means Nigeria is running a deficit budget that continues to hurt economic growth and make people poorer. The country was having to borrow to feed a tiny few, while important things like infrastructural development, industrial growth, job creation receive lesser resources.
“Now that subsidy has been removed as there is no provision for it in the budget anymore, the government is open to veritable ideas from the labour unions on how to redirect the savings for maximum public benefit, including pay rise,” the governor said.
