Create opportunities that will fund budget, labour tells FG

Labour leaders have called on the Federal Government to create opportunities that would help to revive industries and boost the economy to be able to fund budget.

A cross-section of the leaders spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on the N6.06 trillion budget passed by the National Assembly last week.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalled that after weeks of delay, the lawmakers passed the 2016 budget into law following a motion for the passage of the 2016 Appropriation Bill of N6.07 trillion by the chairman, Joint Committee on Appropriations, Danjuma Goje, seconded by Andy Uba.

Sola Olorunfemi, acting general secretary, Automobile, Boatyard, Transport Equipment and Allied Senior Staff Association (AUTOBATE), said the government should endeavour to revive industries such ad Ajaokuta iron and mining industry to generate revenue.

According to Olorunfemi, financing the budget could be difficult if the government does not have sufficient fund.

”How realistic is the N6.06 trillion budget. How will the government get money to finance the expenditure? It is time to put back local productions to speed up products,” the union scribe said.

He said that till now the economic and technical experts were yet to come up with ways that would improve the economy and generate jobs for the masses.

”The masses can pay taxes that can increase government revenue. Government cannot depend only on company taxes to raise money. But there are no jobs for the people,” he said.

The union scribe advised the government to create a roadmap for agricultural sector, especially now that the sale of crude oil price had dropped

If the government fails to implement its projects to boost jobs, it would affect the people as well as the country’s income, he said.

Also, Otori Maliki, president, Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigetia (ISSSAN), expressed fear on the achievement of the budget if many companies were not functioning.

Maliki said if the Ore mining and Ajaokuta Steel Company were functioning it would offer over 10,000 job opportunities and generate income.

He urged the government to endeavour to improve the economy and create opportunities for various sectors to function to shore up its capital expenditure.