The Nigeria Civil Service Union has condemned the recent austerity measures introduced by the Federal Government to save the economy from recession.
This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its 65th National Executive Council meeting and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the union’s National President, Kiri Shaibu, and the General Secretary, Gerald Ukeni.
It stated that austerity was anti-people, and called on the Federal Government to look for alternative sources of income in order to avoid over dependence on oil.
“The NEC-in-Session condemns in strong terms the introduction of austerity measures to save the economy from collapsing.
“Government should rather introduce proactive policy to diversify the economy by creating enabling environment for industrial and agricultural activities to thrive.
“It is no more of interest to the nation to rely 100 per cent on oil for its revenue earnings; our reliance on oil alone must stop to enable the country to develop meaningfully,’’ it stated.
The communiqué also expressed concern at the state of insecurity and terrorist attacks in the country, saying that it was sad that some Nigerians were refuges in their own country.
It called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps toward curbing insecurity and ending terrorism in the country.
The communiqué also condemned the rate of unemployment, income inequality and poverty which it described as alarming.
“The remarks credited to government officials that the economy had recorded an impressive growth are a contrast.
“The growth has not been translated into creating necessary platform to generate jobs, create wealth and reduced income inequality and poverty.
“According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 5.3 million out of an estimated 20.3 million jobless Nigerians are youth,’’ it stated.
The communiqué stated that the NEC-in-Session expressed its gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for signing into law the Pension Reform Act, 2014 (as amended).
It, however, decried the withdrawal of the employee from the retirement savings account at retirement was left at 25 per cent.
“The figure, 25 per cent, is unfair for a contribution that will be made for 35 years; the issue was the major agitation of the workers that prompted the review of the 2004 Pension Act.
“Accepted that not all employees can work for 35 years but a graduation of the withdrawal benefit depending on the number of years served should have been more tolerable than the bench mark of 25 per cent for all,’’ it stated.
NAN
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