Nationwide Strike Imminent as NLC Responds to Petrol Subsidy Removal

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced that it will go on a nationwide strike from next Wednesday, 7th of June, 2023.

Joe Ajaero, President of NLC gave the declaration after an emergency meeting with the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja.

This came after President Bola Tinubu announced during his inaugural speech that “fuel subsidy is gone”. This statement caused chao across the country as fuel prices went up amidst fuel shortages.

However, the NLC faulted the move by the government, adding that the removal of subsidy or fixing of the price should be done after adequate consultation.

The meeting was held at the State House in Abuja and was attended by Mele Kyari, the head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Dele Alake, presidential aide, Festus Osifo, the president of the Trade Union Congress and other officials.

The planned action of the Labour union comes after the meeting which was called for deliberation on the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government and the resultant astronomical hike in the pump price of petrol.

The NLC in a statement after the meeting described the increase in the pump price of petrol as an “ambush” against the Nigerian people.

The labour union said “This is an ambush and runs against the spirit and principles of social dialogue which remains the best platform available for the resolution of all the issues arising out of the petroleum downstream sector.

NLC proposed ultimatum

The NLC President said the government, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited had up until Wednesday next week to revert to the old price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise referred to as petrol.

Ajaero noted that the failure of the Federal Government to meet the ultimatum would attract an indefinite protest across the country.