Following the outrage that greeted the new electricity tariff by the government, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has enjoined Nigerians not to term it a “wicked tariff”, yet, stressing that the administration of president Mohammadu Buhari was open to dialogue.
Speaking with the leadership of Trade Union Congress (TUC) behind closed doors in his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, the Vice President said it is important to note that the present administration was made possible by the people’s will.
In a statement by his media aide, Osinbajo submitted that even if the government and the people disagree, it was still necessary to sit at a round table.
Recalling that the Buhari regime mid-last year provided bailout measure for workers’ salaries, the Vice President reasoned that the government was not out to suffer the people.
He responded to the demands of TUC on the review of the new minimum wage that all issues would be looked into.
He said, “We are here for the people. If not for the people, we will not be here. We got here by the grace of God and the votes of the man on the street who felt it’s time for change. Even if we disagree, we must still talk. The reason is that the government itself is the government of the people.
“Nobody is in government by inheritance. We are here today because the people chose us and that is the reason we must be prepared to listen to issues that concern Nigerians.
“We will take a look at all the issues carefully. We are here for the people and we want to identify with the people. We are open to your suggestions, but it is not enough to say it is a wicked tariff. We must answer the question, how?” he said.
Osinbajo enjoined all Nigerians to support the government in the fight against corruption, adding that “if you don’t fight corruption, you cannot even deal with the economy, you need to hold corrupt people accountable because they stole the money meant for the economy”.
-Leadership
