The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), has again assured Nigerians that the proposed industrial action slated for Wednesday, June 7 will go on as planned if situations surround Fuel subsidy removal remains unchanged.
NLC noted that the only reason the strike will not hold is if the Federal Government and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited NNPCL revert to status quo on the fuel subsidy removal issue.
The body made this known via a statement by its Head of Information and Public Affairs on Sunday, Benson Ubah.
The workers’ body was reacting to a story in a national newspaper on Sunday.
It described the report as laughable and desperate attempt by enemies of the people to polarise Nigeria Labour Congress along ethnic or regional lines on an issue with a national spread.
According to Upah, “this scenario only plays in their imagination as Nigeria Labour Congress continues to be the biggest pan-Nigerian organisation united by a common vision/ mission and shared national values.”
“On the looming strike, we want to assure that all the affiliate unions of the Congress stand together with an unshakeable resolve to prosecute, come Wednesday, except the NNPC and Government do the needful.
“Whereas, primordial sentiments such as religion, region or ethnicity may be refuge for some, at the Nigeria Labour Congress, they have no place. What counts for us are issues such as the mindless and criminal increase in the pump price of pms whose burden will be borne by the already impoverished communities of the poor across Nigeria,” it stated.
NLC said the burden of the malevolent policy would not be borne by other segments of the country to the exclusion of the North or South-West, hence, there is no reason for those regions to back out of the strike.”
Recall that the President, Bola Tinubu had during his inaugural speech declared that the era of subsidy for petroleum products was gone, a development that has had ripple effect on the Nigerian polity since May 29, 2023.
Former President, Buhari only made provision for subsidy till June 2023 arguing that it was no longer sustainable to subsidize fuel in the country.