Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to reconsider its decision to embark on a strike following the removal of petrol subsidy.
The governor made this plea during a press briefing held on Sunday after a post-inauguration church thanksgiving service.
The issue of petrol subsidy removal came to the forefront during President Bola Tinubu’s inauguration speech on May 29 when he announced that the subsidy had been abolished. This pronouncement resulted in the resurgence of long queues at fuel stations and a significant increase in the pump price of petrol nationwide.
In response, the NLC issued a five-day ultimatum to the federal government, demanding a reversal to the previous petrol price of N195 or face a nationwide protest. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, stressed that the federal government had until Wednesday to comply.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, however, urged labour leaders to collaborate with the present administration in its commitment to revitalize the country’s economy and make Nigeria a better place for all.
Sanwo-Olu expressed optimism that the president would replicate the successful initiatives implemented in Lagos on a national scale.
“We are thankful that Mr President is a product of Lagos. We will pray for him and everything that he stands for. We believe he will replicate all the good things he has done in Lagos in our country, Nigeria,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“I want to wish and plead with our citizens even as NLC has said to us that they want to go on strike. It is not the time for a strike. During the campaign trail, every one of our presidential candidates did say that the first thing they are going to do is to remove the subsidy.
“So, what has changed? What has the current president said or what has he done that is different from what any of the other aspirants said they would do?
“We need to be very patient. He (President Tinubu) has not even done a week. So let us talk to ourselves and say that we shouldn’t turn it political. Let us wait and support this man. He has not done a week on the job. Let him go and reflect and at the sub-national level, we are willing to support him.
“The point is no industrial strike will solve anything at this point, it will certainly not bring an end to the issue. The point will be how are we going to ensure that there is a turnaround in our economy.
“He has mentioned something about a better wage. We have started that in Lagos. We started it in January; so other parts of the country can also do the same. We don’t need to wait for the national government. We just need to reflect on what the challenges are in our country and let us solve the problem.
“I want to plead with the Nigeria Labour Congress. It shouldn’t turn into a political thing because we have begun to see that. The leadership should know that they are leading a pack of people and they need to restrain themselves. Let us be patient. Let us work around it. NNPC has said that there is more than enough petrol.”
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