Amid the ongoing debate over minimum wage, Zenith Labor Party (ZLP) Chairman, Chief Dan Iwuanyanwu, has urged President Bola Tinubu to take swift action and significantly reduce the cost of governance, emphasizing the need for economic prudence and fair labour practices.
He specifically urged the president to sign an executive order to slash the earnings of elected officials and government appointees by 50 to 80 percent.
The party chairman also tasked the president to adopt measures similar to those implemented by former military President Ibrahim Babangida to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerian workers.
Iwuanyanwu, who said this In Abuja yesterday at a press briefing, highlighted the disparity between the lavish earnings of a few and the economic struggles of the masses.
The ZLP chairman questioned the justification of lawmakers receiving 20 to 60 million naira monthly, arguing that those aspiring to serve as lawmakers should have their own means of transportation and accommodation in Abuja.
He stressed that many Nigerians are willing to serve without such costly provisions.
Iwuanyanwu stressed the urgency of addressing workers’ needs and reducing governmental expenses to foster a more equitable and sustainable economic environment in Nigeria.
Reflecting on historical precedents, he recalled that during Babangida’s tenure, the government provided 100 buses to the Nigerian labour force and allocated 100 million naira to key states.
“These initiatives, along with other schemes, were distributed across the federation to ease transportation difficulties and mitigate the impact of the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP),” he added.
Iwuanyanwu also recalled the mass housing projects initiated by former President Shehu Shagari, which benefited millions of civil servants and workers nationwide.
According to him, workers’ needs extend beyond salary increases to include housing, education, health, and transportation. He therefore urged labour leaders to consider these aspects in their negotiations.
He also appealed to Tinubu to provide buses to labour leaders in the states to ensure affordable transportation for workers at the local level, just as he stressed the need to avoid another strike by the organised labour.
