TUC seeks review of foreign exchange policy By Yetunde Ebosele

Backs govt’s stance on corruption, TSA policy
AS part of measures to create enabling
environment for manufacturers across the
country, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC)
has urged the Federal Government to review its
foreign exchange policy.
The union, in a communiqué issued at the end of
its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting,
argued that the restriction placed on 42 items
under the government’s foreign exchange policy
may cause more damage to the country’s ailing
industrial sector.
The communiqué, signed by TUC President,
Bobboi Bala Kaigama and General Secretary,
Musa Lawal ,urged the government to urgently
resolve the situation and make the policy flexible,
adding that it is hampering genuine
manufacturers’ access to raw materials.
The union also called on the Federal
Government, to address all pending issues
concerning collective bargaining agreement
reached with workers.
On the alleged plans to privatise government
hospitals, the union said the whole idea is against
the general interest of Nigerians.
According to communique, the introduction of
such a policy will remove healthcare services
from the reach of the common man in Nigeria,
adding that the government should improve the
standard of the existing facilities rather than
privatising them.
“We, however, call on the Federal Government to
urgently address the issue of improving the
standard of Healthcare”, the union added.
It also decried the seemly unhealthy industrial
spirit of some employers, particularly the
indiscriminate disengagement of workers for
being members of trade unions, despite
intervention by the Federal Ministry of Labour
and Productivity, adding that, government should
ensure that it guards against anti-labour policies
such as casualisation and resistance to
unionisation of workers by some companies.
The union said: “The NEC-in-Session
acknowledges the efforts of government in
developing the power sector.
“However, we note that a lot still need to be done
to improve the power situation in order to
protect and stimulate industrial growth and
development”.
It further noted the attempt to liquidate PHCN
without settlement of all labour liabilities as
contained in the agreement between
representatives of Federal Government, the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity,
Ministry of Power, Bureau of Public Enterprises
(BPE), Nigeria Electricity Liability Management
Company (NELMCO) and Secretary to the
Government of the Federation on the one part
and trade unions in the power sector.
“We strongly advise against that attempt, in the
interest of industrial peace and harmony. We
urge the Federal Government to henceforth
ensure that all appointments are strictly guided
by public service rules, scheme of service,
establishment circulars, and Federal Civil Service
Commission’s guidelines on appointment,
promotion and discipline in the public service,”
the workers stated in the communiqué.
TUC however lauded the current administration’s
zero-tolerance stance on corruption and the
Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.
“In particular, the NEC enjoins the Federal
Government to track all the looters of our
commonwealth, including various sums of money
involved in the latest arms scam. All the culprits
must be duly prosecuted and looted funds
recovered to the treasury.
“We, however condemn in serious terms the use
of consultants for the collection of the accruing
monies, and advocate that the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) should take over the process of TSA
management.
“The NEC-in-Session condemns the statement of
the Chairman of the Governors Forum that they
can no longer pay the minimum wage, and that
the minimum wage was forced on them when oil
sold for $126 per barrel against the present price
of $41 per barrel.