Dan Nwanyanwu, the national chairman of the Zenith Labor Party (ZLP), has called on Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently reduce the cost of governance by signing an executive order to slash the salaries of elected officials and government appointees by 50 per cent to 80 per cent
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, Nwanyanwu highlighted the contrast between the luxurious earnings of a few officials and the economic struggles faced by the majority of Nigerians.
He proposed that lawmakers should use their own means for transportation and accommodation in Abuja instead of relying on government provisions, suggesting that many Nigerians are willing to serve without such costly benefits.
Nwanyanwu emphasised the need for immediate action to address workers’ needs and cut government expenses to create a more equitable and sustainable economic environment in Nigeria.
He urged Tinubu to adopt measures similar to those implemented by former military President Ibrahim Babangida, such as providing 100 buses to the Nigerian labour force and allocating 100 million naira to key states to alleviate transportation difficulties and the impacts of the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP).
He stated, “These initiatives, along with other schemes, were distributed across the federation to ease transportation difficulties and mitigate the impact of the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP).”
Recalling historical initiatives, Nwanyanwu mentioned the mass housing projects of former President Shehu Shagari, which benefited millions of civil servants and workers nationwide.
He argued that workers’ needs extend beyond salary increases to include housing, education, health, and transportation, urging labour leaders to consider these aspects in their negotiations.
Nwanyanwu also appealed to Tinubu to provide buses for workers at the local level and stressed the importance of avoiding another strike by organized labour.
