International Labor Day: Reflection of 8 years of Suffering in Nigeria – Opinion
It is vehemently true that the eight years of the out going government on the 29th of May caused more damages to Nigerian laborers than the good promised. Exactly from the 29th May, 2015 up to this time; private, public workers and all the citizens of the country tasted a life upside down from what is expected. Nigerian workers in the federal government to the state and local government workers in some states got the change of suffering, despite the fact that the level of hardship varies from state to state and local governments.
Though it didn’t work, but Buhari’s government in 2022 took a decision to sack civil servants above 50 and to levy any civil servant earning more than N30, 000 but Kaduna state usurped 25% of it’s workers during the Covid 19 lockdown and more than 21,000 civil servants were sacked. In exactly 2021, April the government of Nasir Elrufai sacked 4000 local government workers, and Niger retrenched 754 from the state service. Ondo sacked 2000 personnel in July, 2022, Zamfara state sacked 21 Permanent Secretaries, these are the kinds of jeopardy and catastrophe that befalled Nigerian civil servants in most states. While, the condition of payment is another turmoil, the denial of civil servants their rights to protest in a peaceful manner is the unforgivable crime in the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari. The loggerheads of the Federal Government and the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU) was frequent over the past governments. ASUU engaged members in strike for the total 13th months; almost 600 days with little achievement, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics spent 147 days in strike, and that was how many unions went on strike for various reasons of broken promises by the government of Muhammadu Buhari.
The deteriorating economy is a big punch to Nigerian civil servants in the eight years; Nigeria inflation before 2015 was in a single digit: less than 9.6 % in December, 2016 but at 2023, Nigerian inflation hits 21.82% in January 2023. Pump prize was N87 per in 2015 but 185 in 2023 while sold at 210 to 300 in some parts of the country now. Electricity unit was N11 per kWh but costs N72.2 per unit, diesel was less than 200 hundred but now hits N800, bag of foreign rice was less than N9000 but hiked to almost N30, 000, Dollar exchange rate was below N200 but official is N547 which is hardly seen in accepted markets, the prize of education followed suit. Some states and Federal universities increased almost 50% to 150 percent tuition fees making it unbearable for civil servants to send their children to higher institutions.
Despite the Muhammadu Buhari government implemented minimum wage for the civil servants in the federation coppers but up to date many states in the country didn’t abide by the law of the civil service, while there are many states indebted to the laborers. Zamfara state is owing it’s laborers two months; Taraba, Nasarawa, Edo, Ebonyi, Ondo, Plateau, Imo, Abia owe their workers salaries of two to six months respectively and Federal government is owing ASUU 11 months. And when the government added 40% it excluded lecturers and doctors upon their crucial tasks and demand for salary increment.
When one glance at the condition of Nigeria in 2015 and now that can prefer things to turn back for better because the economy has been wrecked and the condition of life turned upside down from the promises of Muhammadu Buhari, because on the 1st of May, 2023 when other laborers in other countries are rejoicing for their own progress and achievements Nigerian workers will mourn for the 8th years of their suffering. Though, sooner a light is at the tunnel as another government ushers in the 29th of the month. Nigerian laborers will be happy to have a government that will revisit the economy and proffer solutions to it, make sure that inflation and cost of life are mitigated for the general citizens.
Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim (Goronyo) is a lecturer of Mass Communication Department, Kaduna Polytechnic and can be reached via auwalgoronyo@gmail.com
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