The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Labor Union have condemned the hate speech bill stressing out that the bill was an attempt to silence the poor masses. The labor union noted that it would never support the bill and called on those pushing for it to use their time to pursue a rational agenda.

Obinwannem also learned that the groups have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to step down from his position as the oil minister and appoint a technocrat with knowledge about the petroleum industry.

The president of the TUC, Comrade Quadri Olaleye, had made this known via a statement, urging the president to appoint someone with the ability to direct the petroleum sector for efficiency and effectiveness. The TUC said it was concerned about a recent report that the subsidy on petrol had risen to N47.5 per litre, with an expected open market price N180.78.

The labor union, among other demands, also called for the reduction of the cost of governance in Nigeria which it said was highly unreasonable.

Meanwhile, the ministry of finance, budget and planning on Monday, December 30, said some civil servants in various ministries, agencies and departments have started receiving arrear payment of the approved minimum wage.

A director at the ministry said some of the workers have already received the payment alerts from their banks.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the director called on the workers to remain optimistic as all arrears will be paid before the end of December in line with the promise made by the minister of finance, Zainab Ahmed.

Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, Obinwannem News