Labour calls for effective implementation of 2016 budget

Organised labour under the aegis of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has called for an effective and full implementation of the N6.08 trillion 2016 budget to the benefit of the citizens.

Bobboi Kaigama, president of the association, who made the call on Wednesday, however, lauded the planned recruitment of 500,000 unemployed graduates and holders of National Certificate of Education (NCE) as teachers, to curb the escalating rate of unemployment in the economy.

“We also commend the president for the decision to ensure that all the federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are captured and brought under the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) because this will not only reduce the burden of manual preparation of payrolls but also curb cases of sharp practices in the system,” Kagaima said.

The union also described as a welcome development, the resolve of the Federal Government to compile the list of the poorest of the citizens in order to implement the cash transfer programme, noting however, that the government in implementing must be seen to be transparent and inclusive without discrimination.

“We must equally express joy in the decision of government to make good its promise to provide a meal per day for primary school pupils,” said Kagaima.

Alade Lawal, the secretary general of ASCSN, canvassed the meeting of all stakeholders including labour to discuss all issues regarding fuel subsidy removal.

The union advised the government to work hard in the area of looted funds recovery as that would go a long way to shore up government revenue and thereby mitigate the negative impact which the quantum of deficit would have on the entire economy.

“On the whole, the union expressed happiness that instead of talking about austerity measures, the government has decided to put more money in the economy, a scenario that has the potential of bringing more resources to the poorest of Nigerians which would also impact positively on major economic variables,” ASCSN emphasised.