Make welfare package your priority, AMAC NULGE tells Chairman
Nigeria is presently facing some challenging situations, such as fight against corruption, insecurity problems, epileptic power supply etc, would you say that the government was considerate enough to have increased the pump price of the petrol at this moment?
ven as a union leader, I am also the principal Community Development Inspector. On the issue of the fuel pump price increase, let me tell you that some people are enjoying it than others in this country, the subsidy removal is one of the good things that this government have done for the people, it is among the measures that would address the imbalance in the system. Do you believe that some people in this country are making billions of Dollars Daily? Because of how things used to be in this country, so the government in its wisdom wants to address all these lapses in the system once and for all, that is why you see them taking that perceived harsh step. Let us join hands with the government to ensuring that our collective benefit is achieved by all Nigerians and not for selective individuals to continue enjoying our collective wealth and resources. Nigeria must move forward and this is possible when we make some sacrifices, pass through some difficulties. Let’s talk for example about our individuals homes, people in the family must make in order to achieve certain level of progress. President Mohammed Buhari to me is trying to make Nigeria great like other neighboring countries such as Chad, Gabon, Benin etc. The major problem against this country is corruption that is why we are happy with him, because corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of this country. The ongoing anti-corruption war is the right step in the right direction because people must begins to do the right thing, though not easy as we may think, they want to continue with the way it used to be, but the government is saying no. I am a farmer, a big time farmer which has helps me to chatter for my other needs like food, you see people must begin to think outside the regular box, my farming business too has help me to contribute to the national economy, let people begin to think of other avenues of making the ends meet after all the oil prices is already dwindling world over.
For some years, you have been the NULGE chairman in AMAC, we never see you fulfilling some of those promises you made to staff?
Yes, if you know me very well, I don’t make promises without fulfilling them. I have tried severally to fulfill all those promises but could not though many have been carried out between the first and last administration here in AMAC. My most serious challenge is lack of funds to execute all my projects for the staff here, because money has not been in circulation, our budget just lies fallow. We are happy that the national budget was recently passed and signed, in a couple of days, I believe there shall be money in our system and the whole projects of ours shall be implemented for the benefit of staff and AMAC in general.
Some people see the present administration as not the listening type. They claim that they only do what they want to do with no input from the people. How do you react to this?
People are entitled to their opinions, why should be people say that? The only thing I can say is that a good leader must listen to the masses, people that elected them into offices, those that voted for them because you did not go there by your power, so always listen to your electorate. The government must know that ‘a tree cannot make a forest’. We must weigh things and listen to the people but remember that people with their own, that is to say, different folks for different stroke. I am equally a union leader, I consult a lot with my people which primarily on this context is my staff at AMAC here before I make a decision particularly those that border on their wellbeing. I listen to all with different opinions and complaints and see which one is genuine and which one is not. I listen to all both the senior, the junior and those who are my elders in the union, especially those who are more experienced in the job than I. Here in AMAC, I know those that I can confide in as well as those whose advice could take our union to greater heights. The reasons for all these is to enable us move the council forward, for us as a group to achieve our collective aims and objectives and by so doing we might help the entire organization and country to grow.
As NULGE Chairman in AMAC, could you tell us some of you expectations for the new government in your council?
Yes, we have high expectations for the new government, I expect a change at all levels of governance as APC mantra denotes. I also believe that at my age, I can work with anybody because some of us have seen it all here and there. I want to use this opportunity to call on the new government here to play according to the rules and never to toil with workers welfare at any given time because we are here for them. I am always ready to offer my meaningful advice to the government here at every given point particularly on issues that border on the staff welfare package so that this administration can move on smoothly, they way it should be first for the benefit of the staff, the council and the country at large. If the government would refuse to listen to my advice, then we may part way because I have been for some years with lots more experience on how things pertaining to staff should be done. So, our expectation include among others: improved staff welfare package, grass root mobilization and general empowerments as well as massive youths employment.
What would you remember the out gone administration, considering that for some times you hardly agree on issues?
There was this Sure-P program introduced by the former government at the centre, the outgoing government really made good use of the opportunity as many youths, women and men were employed through that process. Others were also empowered in addition to the scholarship arrangement initiated by the outgoing government where different families who had lost the hope of sending their children to school had to do so because they were given scholarship. These are some ways we could remember him but let me point out that it was not bed of all roses as we consistently had to face each other with realities on ground.
As a union leader, would you say that the fuel pump price increase by the government from the N86.50 to N145.00 is ok, considering the myriads of problems facing us at this time?
Personally I would say no, but no matter our reasons and opinion on the matter it is not cogent enough to shut down the entire system ok. Shutting down the system in the name of strike and protest could be worse than the fuel hike itself because many things may happen along the process. I am a unionist, protest and strike is always the last option to resort to when there is no other ways. To me there are still other available options, why can’t we talk first with those in charge, dialogue with them and don’t rush and call workers out for protest, that is how it should be and that is how it is carry out in the advance democracies of the world. As you are aware, we equally shut down the system recently when the outgoing chairmen in the 6 area councils of the FCT refused to pay workers salary, what we did was to approach our representatives at the National Assembly who supported us in no small measure, yes, when it was obvious that they did not want to pay us, we protested, though NLC refused to support us, we were tired, it was not easy but through our state president, we were able to penetrate the National Assembly who assisted us too by giving us a listening ears through the FCT minister, Mohammed Bello, who also made sure that our salary arrears were cleared, though one month still remains.
What final message do you have for your new chairman, Honorable Abdullahi Adamu concerning staff welfare?
As he’s coming in now, plan on how to uplift the staff welfare package as well as those who voted you into office. They should know that there is nothing like motivation, if staff are encouraged through welfare package, then productivity will automatically improve for the betterment of the council. If the opposite happens, that is where different problems would set in. I pray that God would give the government the needed wisdom and capacity to handle and execute its assignment successfully.
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