Workers’ Day: Civil servants bemoan difficulties under the Buhari administration

Some Nigerians, especially civil servants, have bemoaned the economic crisis that has plagued the entire country since the start of the current administration as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to observe International Workers’ Day on May 1.

According to Obasanjonews24, the largest economy in Africa experienced some amount of difficulty under the previous administration, which had an impact on worker welfare. This administration was led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Since taking office on May 29, 2015, Buhari has fought to address a number of economic issues, most notably the inflation that has caused residents to endure intolerable misery.

Recall that in the second quarter of 2016, a year after President Buhari succeeded Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as leader, the country’s economy experienced a recession for the first time in 25 years.

The World Bank recently reported, in November 2022, that Nigeria’s development momentum had stalled since Buhari became the presidency in 2015.

“Nigeria’s development progress has stalled since 2015,” it stated. Nigeria was a rising economic star in West Africa between 2001 and 2014, with an average annual growth rate of 7% and one of the top 15 fastest-growing economies worldwide.

Nigeria’s inflation rate increased to a new 17-year high of 22.04 percent, according to the Consumer Price Index published by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in March 2023.

The terrible turn of events coincided with rising market commodity prices, which worsened the wellbeing of Nigerian workers.

Nigeria will have one of the highest inflation rates in the world and the eighth highest in sub-Saharan Africa in 2022, according to the World Bank.

According to a recent market survey conducted across many important markets in Nigeria, the cost of food and other necessities has climbed by more than 100% over the last five years.

This is clear from the price variations that are practically daily witnessed across all commodities, forcing Nigerian employees to spend more money than they make just to meet basic needs like food and shelter.

A bag of rice, whether domestic or imported, that was formerly sold for about N7,000 in 2016 has increased to as much as N36,000 to N40,000 per 50 kg for some brands, according to a recent survey.

Within the past five to ten years, prices in the country’s major cities have increased dramatically. A loaf of bread went from costing N250 to N1000, while a sachet of tomatoes that once cost N50 is now being sold for as much as N150 or N200.

Another point of disagreement in significant cities around the country is the cost of transportation.

According to the most recent data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, NBS, published in January 2023, the average fare commuters paid for bus trips inside the city rose by about 100% in November 2022.

The change has caused extreme hardship for Nigerians, especially those with modest incomes.

Speaking to DAILY POST, some civil servants demanded an immediate review of the current minimum wage, claiming that the N30,000 figure is no longer feasible given the current state of the economy.

According to Dr. Grace Adejor, a lecturer in the social science faculty at Benue State University, the departing administration did not put workers’ wellbeing first.

She claimed that “what people make these days, particularly those at minimum wage, cannot put food on the table. In order to balance the situation, it is anticipated that wage or salary increases will be necessary as long as inflation and commodity prices continue to climb.

In fact, in the current economic climate, anyone making less than N100,000 struggles to provide for himself, let alone his family. It is clear that the setting is unsuitable for civil servants.

“Workers will contribute more effectively to any endeavor if they are living well. Teaching will undoubtedly suffer from a teacher who is preoccupied with what to eat. Later, this might have an impact on society.

According to DAILY POST, Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labor and Employment, announced that the Federal Government had approved a wage increase for government officials in March 2023.

Last week, a few government employees confirmed the pay raise.

However, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, National President of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, informed our correspondent that lecturers were not included in the pay increase.

He claimed that the FG purposefully left the union off the list to raise questions.

“It was just planned. They only intended to confuse us and the incoming administration, he continued, so they did that.

According to the ASUU leader, every pay raise in the government sector that is not part of a negotiated structure should apply to all sectors, including the military and even the police.

Additionally speaking, Mary Agene from the Federal Ministry of Health informed our correspondent that plans to leave the nation in search of better opportunities have been finalized.

Mary, a licensed nurse, reports that several of her former coworkers who departed in 2022 are already prospering in Europe.

The system in our country is terrible, she declared. Nigeria is a country where people spend more money than they make, and the government is doing little to at least lessen the impact on us.

“Aside from the money issue, what about the murder, kidnapping, and other crimes? Are workers in Nigeria safe? No. Everyone is on their own.

“You hear about someone being abducted or slain every day, even when they are on duty. No single defense.”

Garba Idris, a teacher in the Federal Capital Territory and another respondent, expressed hope that the upcoming administration would be superior.

“No matter what happens, Tinubu’s administration cannot resemble Buhari’s. Without a doubt, it will be better.

“I’m hopeful that soon there will be a change in the wellbeing of workers. APC will find a way to make amends through the new administration because they are aware that they have already let us down, he added.

It may be recalled that in January 2023, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s new administration was encouraged to evaluate the current minimum wage of N30,000 that is now available in the nation by Chris Ngige, the minister of labor and employment.

According to the Minister, the minimum wage in the nation should be evaluated every five years to reflect the current standard of living there.