The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has clarified that it has no intention of commencing a strike on Friday following the removal of the petrol subsidy, as claimed by specific sources.
President Bola Tinubu’s recent statement declaring an end to the petrol subsidy regime has caused significant concerns among the Nigerian public.
In his inaugural speech on Monday, President Tinubu addressed the fuel subsidy issue, stating, “On fuel subsidy, unfortunately, the budget before I assumed office is that no provision is there for fuel subsidy. So, fuel subsidy is gone.”
Following the President’s remarks, long queues of vehicles reappeared at filling stations in various parts of the country, leading to speculations and panic buying.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) attributed the situation to widespread fear and apprehension among the populace.
To address the potential repercussions of the subsidy removal, representatives from the federal government and organized labor commenced a meeting on Wednesday. However, the meeting concluded without reaching a conclusive decision.
Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, stated that the union would consult with its members to determine the next course of action.
Meanwhile, rumors began circulating that the NLC had scheduled a strike for Friday in protest against the removal of the subsidy. In response to these claims, Benson Upah, the head of information and public affairs at the NLC, urged Nigerians to dismiss such reports.
“Our attention has been drawn to stories circulating on social media suggesting that the NLC would initiate a protest action on June 2 against the increase in the pump price of petrol,” Upah clarified.
“While we are outraged by this drastic price hike, which is expected to bring untold hardship to Nigerians, we have no plans to commence any action on June 2. Instead, we have scheduled organizational meetings for that day to deliberate on the price issue.”
Upah assured the public that the NLC would keep Nigerians updated on its subsequent actions after the meetings. The NLC remains committed to defending the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers and will continue engaging with relevant stakeholders to address the concerns arising from the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Comments are closed.