Kehinde Fajobi
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has cautioned the judiciary against issuing judgments that could add to the hardships of ordinary Nigerians.
This follows the recent suspension of allocations to the Rivers State Government.
He shared his views while unveiling 10 new CNG-powered buses at the NLC secretariat in Port Harcourt.
Ajaero remarked, “The judiciary should be careful not to embark on a journey of self-destruction,” warning that the suspension could negatively impact thousands of workers in Rivers State.
He added that although the NLC is not taking a firm stance due to ongoing court cases, he called on the Nigerian Bar Association, National Judicial Council, and other relevant bodies to examine the issue, considering existing legal precedents.
He also commended the recent approval of an ₦85,000 minimum wage for state workers, but urged the Rivers State Government to address other unresolved matters, such as unpaid hazard allowances for health workers since 2021 and the delayed payment for teachers at state demonstration schools.
Speaking on the new CNG-powered buses, Ajaero highlighted the need to expand CNG infrastructure nationwide to support their operation and advocated for regulated CNG prices to prevent a repeat of petrol inflation.
He noted, “Nigeria has vast gas reserves, and we must leverage them for the people’s benefit.”
He explained that the NLC has received 60 buses, with 10 distributed to each geopolitical zone for testing. Rivers, he stated, is the first South-South state to receive them, with hopes to make both Rivers and Edo States regional hubs for CNG operations.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara, represented by Secretary to the State Government Tammy Danagogo, attended the event and commended the NLC’s commitment to advocating for workers.
Danagogo assured the NLC of the state’s dedication to prioritising workers’ welfare, saying, “We appreciate your efforts and encourage you to continue engaging all levels of government constructively for meaningful change in Nigeria.”
Danagogo also thanked the NLC for choosing Rivers as a starting point for the CNG bus distribution and expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support in providing the buses.
Reflecting on workers’ mobility needs, he added, “This administration has always recognised the importance of transportation for workers. Since the start, we provided free buses for civil servants, and senior officials receive official vehicles upon appointment.”
He invited the Rivers chapter of the NLC to address any remaining issues, particularly regarding hazard allowances and payments for demonstration school teachers.