ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strongly criticizes President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government for its failure to disburse federal workers’ December salaries, stating that this neglect underscores the administration’s intent to cause distress to Nigerians.
Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, expressed this condemnation in a statement released in Abuja on Saturday.
He highlighted the administration’s insensitivity, labeling the non-payment during the festive season as unacceptable, emphasizing the Tinubu-led APC’s disregard for the welfare of Nigerians.
Ologunagba accused the administration of weaponizing poverty and suppressing citizens, drawing attention to the contrast with the PDP’s 16-year governance, where workers consistently received their December salaries ahead of Christmas day.
He criticized President Tinubu’s alleged prioritization of frivolous expenditures over the essential needs of government workers.
The statement also demanded accountability from President Tinubu regarding the trillions of naira derived from the removal of petroleum subsidy in the past seven months.
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Additionally, the PDP called for transparency regarding the distributable statutory revenue, VAT revenue, Electronic Money Transfer Levy revenue, and Exchange Difference revenue, as declared by the Federation Account Allocation Committee in December 2023.
The PDP further urged immediate payment of December salaries to workers and an additional compensatory payment of at least 50 per cent, aiming to alleviate the economic hardship imposed by the APC administration.
Emphasizing the need for governance based on the Constitution and Rule of Law, the PDP warned against arbitrary rule by individuals or groups, asserting the principles of a constitutional federation for Nigeria.
He said, “The failure to pay December salary of workers further confirms that the Tinubu-led APC administration has practically run our nation’s economy aground with its corruption, recklessness and ill-informed counter-productive policies.
“The PDP demands that President Tinubu immediately account for the trillions of naira accruable from the removal of subsidy on petroleum products in the last seven months.
“Furthermore, the President is requested to come clean on the December 2023 distributable Statutory Revenue of N376.306 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) Revenue of N335.656 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy Revenue of N11.952 billion and Exchange Difference Revenue of N364.869 billion as contained in the communique issued by FAAC at its December 2023 meeting.
“The PDP demands the immediate payment of the December salary of workers and additional compensatory payment of at least 50% of the salary of workers to cushion the effect of the economic hardship foisted on them by the APC administration.
“President Tinubu must understand that Nigeria is a Federation that must only be governed by the Constitution and the Rule of Law and not by the whims and caprices of an individual or group.”