PDP, APC tango over ‘plan’ to cut workers’ salaries
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday cautioned that cutting workers’ salaries would trigger an immediate negative spiral effect, particularly with the escalated cases of terrorism and other social vices, confronting Nigeria.
The PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said it rejected the baseless argument that the move to cut salaries was necessitated by dwindling revenue to finance the national budget.
The statement read in part: “Rather than impose more hardship on our workers, the APC and its administration should realign the budget by removing their padded figures as well as end the exposed looting in the integrated payment system, where trillion of naira are being siphoned through non-existent workers and overheads.
“It is distasteful that the APC and the Buhari administration are contemplating a salary cut in a country with a paltry N30,000 monthly minimum wage, an amount that can barely run a small family for less than a week in the face of escalated cost of staple food and essential commodities.
“Our party cautions that APC and its administration against the proposed salary cut as it will trigger an immediate negative spiral effect, particularly with the escalated cases of terrorism and other social vices, confronting our nation.
“Our party counsels the Buhari administration to leave workers salary alone and seek help by getting more capable hands to manage our economy and create wealth instead of plunging Nigerians into more hardship”.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives
Congress (APC) yesterday flayed the PDP for alleging that its leaders recommended salary reduction to Buhari.
Secretary, APC Caretaker Committee, John Akpanudoedehe, in a statement, said: “the PDP is up to its comical tales on what it terms ‘intelligence at its disposal’ to slash the salaries of workers in the country. Clearly, only the PDP believes its tales.”
“From the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s several social investment programmes targeted at citizens living on the margin; implementation of the improved minimum wage; the Economic Sustainability Plan to the mass housing programme benefitting thousands, this government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers is tested, proven and unmatched,” he said.