President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would not inflict hardship on citizens, but rather keep seeking ways to ameliorate their suffering and create more enabling environment for everyone to thrive.
Buhari stated this when he received the new executive of Trade Union Congress (TUC), led by its President, Mr Quadri Olaleye.
The president, who was reacting to Olaleye’s presentation bordering on national issues, said: “On fuel prices, I agree with you on the need to eliminate corruption and inefficiencies in the sector.
“I want to assure you that as an administration, we have no intention of inflicting any additional hardship on Nigerians,“ he said.
According to him, the Federal government remains committed to the implementation of the national minimum wage.
He said that the inaugural Federal Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday, focused on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework which includes discussions around the new minimum wage.
“During our first term in office, we secured the nation’s territorial integrity and continued to protect the lives and properties of our citizens.
“We introduced various economic stimulus packages that support businesses and traders at all levels, promoted backward integration programmes, especially in the agricultural sector, to enhance our food security while creating jobs.
“We embarked on the most ambitious infrastructure development and rehabilitation projects this country has seen in decades. We also introduced the largest Social Investment Programmmes in Sub-Saharan Africa.’’
He said that in the next four years, Nigeria would sustain policy momentum to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
The President, who noted that his administration would work hard to improve the livelihood of citizens, said most of the inherited challenges were avoidable, if some previous governments had been keener on investing on infrastructure and human capacity.
“The points you raised are all interconnected. The lack of power and infrastructure due to decades of under-investment led to the closure or inefficient operations of a number of factories across the country.
In his remarks, the President of TUC advised the Federal government to pay more attention to the welfare of Nigerians by avoiding increase of fuel price and ensuring implementation of the national minimum wage.
