Economic hardship: APC mulls work-free days for staff

By Jude Opara, Abuja

Apparently worried by the incessant complaints from staff over the rising cost of transportation, the ruling all progressives Congress (APC) is seriously considering giving the workers about two or three days off each week.
A reliable source from the party revealed that since the federal government jacked up the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS popularly referred to as petrol, most of the workers at the national secretariat of the party have been finding it difficult to transport themselves to work.
Our source who pleaded anonymity further revealed that last week, precisely on Thursday, directors of different departments at the secretariat met to fashion out the workability of the new scheme which is aimed at making it much easier for the staff to pull through the prevailing hard times.
According to him, at the meeting of the directors, they all unanimously agreed and concluded on the modalities, pending the approval by the leadership of the party.
“I can confirm to you that the party is seriously contemplating giving work free days to the staff to help them manage the prevailing hard economic situation which was occasioned by the recent increase in price of petroleum resources.
“The truth remains that since the recent change in pump price, it has been difficult for many Nigerians to cope and our staff at the party are not exempted too. We have noticed that most of them even when they manage to make it to the office, they come in very late because of the difficulty in getting vehicles that will convey them.
“The directors have met and taken a decision which will be passed on to the National Working Committee (NWC) for their consideration and approval and once they give the necessary approval, some staff may have to be coming to the office only twice or three times in a week. Those in a department can agree on how some will take responsibility for everyone on their days at work”.
It could be recalled that most commuters have not been able to freely go about their normal businesses since the sharp increase in the price of petrol by the federal government.