The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria on Thursday reaffirmed its stance that it would resist any plan to increase the price of petroleum products.
The ASCSN General Secretary, Mr. Solomon Onaghinon,told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the Federal Government should think of how to meet the needs of the populace.
The government had planned to increase the pump price of petroleum products this month but shifted it to January 2009.
�Instead of subjecting the people to more poverty, let the government use crude oil accruals to improve electricity supply,� he said.
Onaghinon said it was regrettable that money generated from crude oil sales did not reflect in the nation�s development.
He said that with improved electricity supply, there would be employment because private sector employees would be able to return to business.
�If electricity supply is improvedto at least 12 hours a day, poverty will be reduced by 60 per cent in Nigeria,� he said.
The union general secretary urgedthe government to repair roads and develop agriculture for increased food production and to also provide portable water.
On workers� salary increase, Onaghinon urged the NLC to send a memo to government to hasten the implementation of improved wages for workers.
He said, �What the civil servants earn is not impressive. It is low and incapable of motivating any worker to be diligent and make sacrifices for the nation.
�The government should understand the implications of low salary for workers.
�It appears the government worries only about political office holders, while the masses are suffering.�
He advised labour unions to fight for salary adjustment rather than upward review in wages as that would providea better welfare package for the workers.
In another development, proceeds from �rag day� by civil servants in Lagos State will be donated to the Lagos State Rehabilitation Centre in Majidun near Lagos.
The Head of Service, Mr. Yakub Balogun,disclosed this on Thursday while unveiling the activities lined up for this year�s public service week, scheduled to begin on June 18.
NAN reports that �rag day� is part ofthe activities lined up for the week-long event.
The head of service said that the move was aimed at complementing the government which, he said, had been doing a lot for the less-privileged in the state.
Balogun said the event would be used as a platform for the civil service to showcase its achievements.
�It equally provides an opportunity for public servants to promote professionalism, accountability and responsiveness,� he added.
He assured civil servants, whom he described as the �engine room of the government,� of adequate rewards from the government.