The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, has expressed shock at the Federal Government’s announcement to borrow from the pension fund.
The acting National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Muhammed Ishaq, in a statement issued Friday, described the move as not only improper but a betrayal of the trust of Nigerian workers.
He said: “The decision to tap into the pension fund, which is meant to provide for the financial security of retired workers, is a clear indication of the government’s lack of vision and accountability.
“It is a desperate attempt to plug the holes in its porous budget and finance its reckless spending habits.
“Despite the government’s inability to improve workers wages to measure up with the standards in other parts of the world, it is perfecting plans to deplete the very contributions that Nigerian workers have made over the years from their meager salaries we all see as “unliving” wages.”
The opposition party noted that this act falls short of the government’s commitment to being responsible and catering for the welfare of its citizens.
The PRP, therefore, demanded to know why the government was choosing to raid the pension fund instead of exploring other legitimate sources of funding.
It added: “Is it because they have exhausted all other avenues and are now left with no choice but to resort to this draconian measure?
“We suspect that this decision is driven by the government’s insatiable appetite for misuse and abuse of resources and its willingness to sacrifice the welfare of Nigerians for its own selfish interests.”