Ambassador Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize timely salary payments for workers. Mumuni, a former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) in Lagos State, expressed his appeal in a statement issued by his media aide on Wednesday.
In the statement, Mumuni acknowledged President Tinubu’s positive intentions for Nigeria, citing bold decisions to address issues such as the corrupt petrol subsidy regime. However, he highlighted unintended consequences, leading to increased hardships for citizens due to rising prices of goods and services.
Mumuni called on the President to promptly address these concerns by implementing measures to alleviate the challenges faced by the people. He specifically emphasized the importance of ensuring the smooth implementation of the N35,000 monthly palliative for federal workers, viewing it as a crucial step to mitigate current hardships.
Furthermore, Mumuni encouraged the federal government to expedite actions on the new minimum wage and the widely-discussed electric buses initiative. He stressed the need for all levels of government, including state governments, to prioritize the timely payment of salaries. Mumuni commended states that have already taken steps in this direction but urged additional efforts to alleviate the prevailing hardship experienced by the citizens.
His statement reads:
“There is no doubt that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the best of intentions for Nigeria. We have seen this firmly expressed in his bold decision to tackle the corrupt petrol subsidy regime, among other economic policies.
“However, these policies have led to unintended consequences for people, making life difficult and uncomfortable.
“Our citizens lament the biting hardship they face, most especially with the increasing prices of goods and services. I urge Mr. President to immediately address these concerns with appropriate measures.”
“There should be nothing affecting the implementation of the N35,000 monthly palliative to federal workers. It’s part of measures that would cushion the hardship people are facing currently. The government should also accelerate efforts on the new minimum wage and the much-talked-about electric buses.
“The federal government, and indeed all governments, should make prompt payment of salaries a priority. The allocations to most of the states have increased recently. I expect that our governors will support the efforts of the federal government to lessen the hardship people are facing. The burden should not be left to the federal government alone. I commend state governments that have started in this direction. However, there is a need to do more for the people. The hardship is too much.”
