By Muhammad Mamman
The Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA) has criticised the Federal Government for pursuing what it described as anti-poor policies that are crippling workers and worsening the national economy.
Speaking at the union’s 1st Quadrennial and 9th National Delegates Conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, PERESSA President Rufus Olusesan, who was re-elected unopposed, warned that the government’s economic measures were fuelling hardship, eroding wages, and deepening insecurity.
“We cannot ignore the painful realities confronting Nigerians today. Inflation is destroying workers’ meagre wages, unemployment is at alarming levels, and the cost of living has gone beyond the reach of ordinary households,” Olusesan said.
He condemned rising electricity tariffs, describing them as a threat to homes, manufacturers, and small businesses, many of which face collapse due to unaffordable energy costs.
Olusesan also rejected any plan to impose a 5 per cent fuel tax on petrol, diesel, and other fossil fuels from January 2026, calling it a “reckless, anti-people policy” that would worsen the survival crisis for millions already burdened by subsidy removal, soaring food prices, and naira devaluation.
He further faulted government claims on wage reforms, arguing that the new N70,000 minimum wage had already been eroded by inflation and corruption, while public officials continued to allocate “obscene” salaries and perks to themselves.
PERESSA also rejected the recently approved National Industrial Relations Policy (NIRP) 2025, describing it as an attempt to suppress union rights and criminalise strikes.
Supporting the call, Deputy General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ismail Bello, urged unions to unite against anti-labour employers, stressing that workers’ right to freedom of association must not be undermined.
