The Trade Union Congress(TUC )of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to increase funding for security operations and strengthen the naira to between N700 and N800 to the dollar.
TUC President-General, Festus Osifo, made the demands on Wednesday in Abuja after the congress’s National Administrative Council meeting, saying insecurity and exchange-rate pressures were hurting food production, investment and workers’ living standards.
Osifo commended the Department of State Services and the National Security Adviser for efforts to tackle insecurity, including recent arrests and convictions of suspected terrorists and kidnappers.
He, however, said continued killings and kidnappings in Plateau, Zamfara, Borno, Katsina, Niger and other states required a stronger government response.
The TUC leader said insecurity had prevented farmers in affected communities from returning to their farms and discouraged investment.
He called for budgetary reallocations to provide security agencies with the equipment and resources required to tackle insurgency and banditry.
“We have proposed… that government should even carry out what we call virement budget to move funds to that area to procure the necessary equipment,” Osifo said.
He also demanded action over the deaths of about 37 miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.
Osifo urged the Federal Government to implement the findings of the committee investigating the incident.
“We don’t want the committee report to just be another report that is going to be gathering dust on the shelf,” he said.
The TUC president-general said anyone found culpable should face the law, irrespective of status.
On the economy, Osifo acknowledged improvements in inflation and foreign exchange stability but maintained that the naira remained undervalued.
He commended Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, for efforts to stabilise the currency.
Osifo, however, insisted that the naira should trade between N700 and N800 to the dollar.
“We still believe that Naira should be somewhere between 700 to 800 Naira to USD,” he said.
He argued that a stronger naira would reduce the cost of imported inputs such as fertiliser, energy and equipment, while easing pressure on consumers.
Osifo also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that preparations for the 2027 general elections were transparent, inclusive and credible.
On labour matters, he warned that the two labour centres could resume action if outstanding issues from the communiqué that suspended the Joint Health Sector Unions strike remained unresolved.
He called on the Minister of Health, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, to intervene and ensure implementation of agreements reached with the unions.
The TUC also expressed concern over the decline of Nigeria’s textile industry, citing high energy and production costs, job losses and declining consumer purchasing power.
Osifo urged the Federal Government and sub-national authorities to support the sector’s revival, noting its historical contribution to employment.
On the controversy surrounding the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, he said the TUC had contributed to a seven-member committee established to address the dispute.
He urged stakeholders to work towards a resolution that would protect the interests of workers, parents, old students and the government.
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