FG Announces N25,000 Grant a Monthly Support to 15 Million Families » Voice of Nigeria
Nigeria’s Federal Government Announces N25,000 Monthly Support to 15 Million Families
In a recent and unexpected announcement, the Federal Government of Nigeria declared its intention to grant N25,000 each month to 15 million households.
This initiative is set to last for three months, from October to December 2023.
FG Announces 3-Month N25,000 Support for 15 Million Families
In a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, it was revealed that this initiative was one of the major resolutions from a meeting with organized labor representatives.
Notably, the government has made the decision to allocate N25,000 as a provisional wage increment for all treasury-paid federal government employees, spanning over a duration of six months.
Addressing Transportation and Economic Concerns
The government is taking active steps to alleviate the public transportation challenges linked with the removal of the PMS subsidy.
There are robust plans in place to expedite the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to address this.
Furthermore, the government is showing its commitment to support micro and small-scale enterprises by assuring the provision of necessary funds.
As an additional relief measure, VAT on diesel will be exempted for an upcoming period of six months.
Key Resolutions
The meeting resulted in several crucial resolutions:
- The underlying issues can best be tackled when employees are working rather than when on strike.
- The demand for a higher wage by the Labour Unions will be forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for consideration.
- A dedicated sub-committee will be formed to delve into the details of how the government’s intervention initiatives, especially regarding the fuel subsidy removal, will be implemented.
- The ongoing issues between the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State were flagged as requiring immediate attention. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Governor, has committed to addressing this issue.
- NLC and TUC are expected to evaluate the government’s proposals with the intention of possibly postponing the anticipated strike. This would provide an opportunity for further discussions on the resolutions mentioned.
Participation and Attendance
The meeting, spearheaded by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, saw virtual participation from Governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State, the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State.
Key government figures in attendance included Wale Edun (Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy), Mohammed Idris (Minister of Information and National Orientation), Simon Lalong (Minister of Labour and Employment), and other notable ministers and officials.
The labor team was led by NLC President Joe Ajaero, along with other esteemed members of the NLC and TUC.
This noteworthy initiative by the Nigerian government reflects its commitment to supporting its citizens, especially during challenging economic times.
The collaborative approach between the government and labor unions emphasizes the importance of unity in decision-making.
