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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Frontline advocate for public sector reforms, Mallam Salihu Nataro, has described the planned nationwide by organised labour as unnecessary, insensitive and a demonstration of ignorance by the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Reacting to the sudden declaration of a strike by the labour unions, Nataro said the labour leaders failed to into consideration very salient factors before deciding to paralyse the economy further through a shutdown.
He stated: “There are very crucial factors to take into consideration, they include oversized civil service structure with many duplications of functions, low productivity due to the fact of too many ministries, parastatals and agencies, which warrant unnecessary public expenditure.
“Then you recognise the the global economic challenges caused by wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as Nigeria’s internal problems that have to do with kidnappings and insurgency which make government pump huge amounts in security budget, projects and salaries with little earning from oil.”
Nataro, who contested the Kebbi State governorship in 2015 on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), maintained that it seems obvious that the labour leaders do not know the cost of crude oil production as well as the paltry profit after tax.
While contending that the Labour leaders ought to recognise that Nigerians are unproductive people, Nataro, who is also a Public Finance expert disclosed that agitation for wage increase should be guided by patriotism and due cognisance of the fact that the Federal Government was still looking for money through World Bank to fund critical infrastructure projects.
“Strike should be the last option, current economic realities must be taken into consideration and the Federal Government given more time for its reform efforts to bear fruits. I maintain that we are lucky to have an experienced accountant and financial expert as a president.
“I believe President Bola Tinubu, with his policies and actions, is able to tackle the whole issue step by step. However, the Federal Government should look at the issue of pension eligibility so as to increase the number of years for any public official to be entitled to a pension.
“I have been suggesting that only those with 25 years of service or above should be due for pensions in line with the world Economic order,” he stated.
Nataro called on President Tinubu to halt further purchases of fighter Aircraft from America, India and Europe to save trillions of nair, stressing that the Nigerian Defence Academy as well as the Command and Staff College, Jaji can go into Drone Research and production through the help of Iran or Russia so as to save the economy, the life of our citizens and boost the security.
