Its no longer news that due to the fall in the price of crude oil, the revenues of the Nigerian government has reduced by almost 50 percent.
This reduction in government revenues has affected the state governments ability to pay their workers salaries for more than three months in various states across the country.
We are on the brink of a major labour crises in a couple of months and if the crises is not averted before it begins, we may face the greatest labour revolution in Nigerian history.
What should the incoming federal government do to arrest the situation before it spirals out of control?
1. Should the FG bailout the states? (Remember that although the FG has the upperhand in revenue generation, it is also in dire need of funds)
2. Should the revenue allocation formula be revisited and modified to allow a higher percentage for the states?
3. Should we let the state workers and the state governments to their fate and let them groan of frustration?

Your ideas and solutions are highly entertained.

Buhari should ask them to pay! GEJ my HERO! FAYOSE my ROLE MODEL!!

This problem requires more than a single approach.
1) let charity begin at home: let the governors, members of the house of reps, chairmen, senators and every political office holder use their allowances and security votes to offset some of the salaries for starters. That way they would begin to realize that they are servants of the people and not lords of the state. When they live only on their basic salary, they would also appreciate the suffering their people go through to make a living
2) while their allowances may not be sufficient to settle their devices debts. Let the federal government begin to deduct the salaries of the state workers from source and pay the workers directly and use either 25% or 50% of the state allocation to pay the current debts until it is all settled no matter how long it takes.

The truth is that yhe federal govt can't afford a bailout to those states now because the FG ia broke and the only reason why those workers have bot being paid is the greed of the politicians.

For 1, the federal assembly should call for more legislation to audit the books of these states and indict them for corruption if applicable. EFCC should be invited

No 2 absolutely wrong, the states are autonomous when it comes to hire and pay, it's totally wrong because that's what the states do to the LGAs

No State Governor can justify why salaries were not paid, they hve all received monthly allocation till date

Most underdevelopment problems in the country are caused by the state governments.

If they state government were alive and diligent in their duties, Nigeria would have been better off.

Let them find a way and pay. After months of suffering, the workers should be more determined to hold the government accountable for all the earnings of the state. Nigerians are just too docile.

The people should demand a breakdown of government expenses and to know why there is no money. Salary should be top priority

This whole issue is completely uncalled for and retrogressive. Imagine when you don't pay workers, most of them stop coming to work, later you still have to pay them, for the "unworked" days, doesn't make sense cos you stab yourself while trying to hurt them

roigr2012:
This problem requires more than a single approach.
1) let charity begin at home: let the governors, members of the house of reps, chairmen, senators and every political office holder use their allowances and security votes to offset some of the salaries for starters. That way they would begin to realize that they are servants of the people and not lords of the state. When they live only on their basic salary, they would also appreciate the suffering their people go through to make a living
2) while their allowances may not be sufficient to settle their devices debts. Let the federal government begin to deduct the salaries of the state workers from source and pay the workers directly and use either 25% or 50% of the state allocation to pay the current debts until it is all settled no matter how long it takes.

The truth is that yhe federal govt can't afford a bailout to those states now because the FG ia broke and the only reason why those workers have bot being paid is the greed of the politicians.

1. Yes, the politicians have no other option. The impending strike from labour unions across Nigerian states will put all Nigerian politicians in their place.
2. What then is the use of a state governor if the federal government directly pays for the salaries of his state workers? This is like declaring a full state of emergency in the state.

The FG is broke but it can easily source for funds to offset debts better than the states. The FG can easily sell one or two national assets and raise billions of naira in a short period but these states can't.

If the FG is not owing them they should pay their workers, wherever they get the money to pay is there business and they should be given a period of time to pay or face the law, period. As for Enugu state, chime is not owing anybody, that means no governor has the right to claim not to pay his works. If it was then, they will push all the blames to Jonathan, his been vindicated now.

socialmediaman:
For 1, the federal assembly should call for more legislation to audit the books of these states and indict them for corruption if applicable. EFCC should be invited

No 2 absolutely wrong, the states are autonomous when it comes to hire and pay, it's totally wrong because that's what the states do to the LGAs

If they're probed and indicted of corruption, will that pay the salaries of the workers?

Sweetguy25:


If they're probed and indicted of corruption, will that pay the salaries of the workers?

Before you even start the probe, they'll bring out the money where they kept it. Those money didn't just miss, they were embezzled. These state governors have security votes of at least 1 billion naira each, plus other allowances, they still dip hands in state treasury to finance their corrupt empires. Challenge them to a fight and you'll see the money. Was it not Aregbesola's son that was rumored to have been arrested with money when state salaries have not been paid?

If we continue to treat corruption with diplomacy, this nation will be destroyed, the example is right here before our eyes. Use legal means and pursue it vigorously and it will be on the run

There is little he can do.... This is democracy