The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has initiated a large-scale mobilization in preparation for its planned nationwide strike, set to commence on Wednesday, as a protest against the difficulties caused by the removal of fuel subsidies.
According to a schedule obtained by correspondents in Abuja on Sunday, the NLC called on Nigerians to gather at the Unity Fountain in Abuja on August 2, 2023, at 7 am to join the strike.
The NLC firmly believes that the government should not leave its citizens entirely at the mercy of market forces without some form of control and protection. They advocate for immediate action by the Federal Government to address the criminal aspects of the subsidy and avoid causing unnecessary pain and hardship to ordinary citizens. The NLC emphasizes the importance of fixing domestic refineries to cater to the country’s fuel consumption.
Expressing concerns about recent monetary policies by the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government, the NLC objects to leaving the national currency to market forces. The union is steadfast in demanding the reversal of all “anti-poor policies” and the release of withheld salaries for the Academic Staff Union of Universities, among other demands.
As the NLC prepares for a meeting with the Federal Government on Monday and the subsequent nationwide strike on Wednesday, they accuse the Tinubu-led administration of playing games with the lives of Nigerians. The NLC calls on the government to take labor unions’ engagement seriously.
In response, academic unions such as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities have also initiated nationwide mobilization of their members to support the strike.
Meanwhile, the Arewa Citizen Watch for Good Governance, a group of northern youths, plans to protest against the subsidy removal, blaming the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, for misleading the President on the issue. They also warn against renewing the Pipeline Surveillance Contract to former Niger Delta militant Government Tompolo by the NNPCL.
On the other hand, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) appeals to the NLC to reconsider the planned strike, citing potential threats to sustainable enterprises, decent work, national development, and the industrial relations system. NECA is concerned that the strike could disrupt economic activities, affecting businesses and job creation.
In the midst of this, President Bola Tinubu claims that the Federal Government is receiving support and commendations from global communities regarding the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange regime policies, stating that these measures are yielding positive results. He expressed his appreciation to civil servants for their contributions to the country’s economic development and assured that measures will be taken to alleviate the pains experienced by the people due to these policies.
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