Seeks Increment of Service Year to 35
- Safiu Kehinde
The organised labour union has demanded an upward review of the retirement age from 60 years to 65 years.
The union comprising of the the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) also sought the review od service years of all public and civil servants from 35 years to 40 years respectively.
These were contained in parts of the demands presented by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, during the May Day celebration held at the Eagles Square Abuja on Thursday.
Both labour unions had yesterday converged across the country to mark the annual Workers Day celebration.
While most state governors were in attendance at the event at their respective states, President Bola Tinubu was represented at the event in Abuja.
However, the President had earlier commiserated with the workers in a statement issued on his official X handle.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers.
Coupled with the retirement age and service year review demanded by the organised labour, the group also sought immediate reversal of the suspension of the elected government of Rivers State via a state of emergency in what it describes as the unconstitutional.
It further demanded democratic accountability, built on transparent governance, electoral reforms, and an end to the suppression of dissent.
In the same vein, the labour unions urged the Federal Government to end the incessant killings across the country.
On the tax bills before the National Assembly, the organised labour reportedly called for their withdrawal to allow Nigerian workers to sit at the table where it is being conceived.
They maintained that the tax bills, crafted without the input of the NLC and the TUC, impose a burden on workers while letting the rich and corporations off the hook.
The labour also reiterated their demand for an immediate reduction in the hike in telecommunication tariff from 50 percent to 35 percent.
Furthermore, the organised Labour has demanded an immediate salary adjustment that is commensurate to the current economic realities in the country.