Ikenna Okafor
The Federal government is making plans to ameliorate the untold hardship caused by the hike in transportation fares following the removal of fuel subsidy.
Hence, the Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi Esan, yesterday, made it known to civil servants that there is no plan to reduce the number of work days rather, the government is working out other avenues to lessen the burden being experienced by the workers
Two states, Edo and Kwara had in the last few weeks directed their workers to reduce the number of work days to three, instead of the normal five work days. However, the Kwara state government reversed the decision early this month. Against this backdrop, the Ogun state government have started disbursing a monthly #10,000 stipend to its workers and pensioners in a bid to cushion the effects of the removal of the subsidy.
Speaking at a media parley with Journalists in Abuja during an event tagged, ‘Digitalisation of Work Processes in the Public Service: A Gateway to Efficient Resource Utilization and National Development’, Folashade Esan stated that the Federal Government is mapping out strategies to make workers cope with the tough situation.
“We don’t have any plans to reduce working days for civil servants in view of the hike in PMS and cost of transportation. However, a committee has been set up to look into this”
“The committee is currently working on getting gas-powered buses to convey civil servants to and fro. We’re also working on the conversion of some vehicles from PMS into gas. Also, the minimum wage is also being reviewed.”
It is widely believed in many quarters that a reduction in the number of work days will not aid productivity among workers. Also, a reduction in the days in a bid to save costs for the workers will rather create more economic challenges while the government may not function properly.
