The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has challenged the Federal government to investigate the N30 trillion Ways and Means loan secured by the immediate past administration.
Besides, the labour union in Kano worried that outstanding pension liabilities including gratuity and death benefits have hit N40 billion in Kano.
NLC state Chairman, Comrade Kabiru Inuwa made the request at a media briefing on Wednesday.
Comrade Inuwa lamented the harsh economic situation in the country despite the huge foreign loan obtained by President Buhari’s government that failed to yield positive results.
The labour leader urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on foreign loans, by thoroughly investigating how the facility where used and ensuring the recovery of stolen funds from the previous administration.
Comrade Inuwa emphasized the impact of the harsh economy Nigerians are currently battling with as a result of removal of fuel subsidy, resulting in food inflation.
He appealed to the Federal Government to consider the introduction of bail-out program and cash transfer initiatives under close supervision of the central government to ease the pains of workers and pensioners.
NLC also appealed to the federal government to reopen the land borders with neighboring countries as part of measures to check the rising cost of food items in the country.
Citing a case of Kano, the Labour leader said retired pensioners are finding it difficult to feed their families, due to accumulated outstanding gratuity.
While applauding Kano state government readiness to pay wage award of N20,000 and N15,000 to civil servants and pensioners respectively beginning from March, Comrade Inuwa hinted that pensioners above N3 million are yet to benefit from the N6 billion recently released.
On the release of 42,000 metric tons of grains directed for distribution to states, the NLC chairman added that the Union was not aware of any release of grains in Kano.
” We embarked on the protest to press home our discountenance on the economic hardship Nigerians are facing. The one-day demonstration is effective enough and that was why we suspended the day two to allow government attend to our demands.
” We urged government to reopen land borders and remove collection of levies and tax in the states and local governments. We urged the state government to settle gratuities, return cash transfer to less privileged and provide fresh bailout to states under the supervision of Federal Government to settle pensioners benefits”. Comrade Inuwa added.