Abuja, Nigeria – (African Boulevard News) – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the main labour union in Nigeria, has announced plans to go on strike following the government’s removal of fuel subsidy. This decision was made during the NLC’s National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The NLC, in a statement, said that it had exhausted all avenues for dialogue with the government over the issue, but to no avail. The union has argued that the removal of fuel subsidy would result in an increase in the price of petrol, which would in turn raise the cost of living for Nigerians.
“That the NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation), a private limited liability company, that illegally announced the price regime in the oil sector refuses to revert itself for the benefit of Nigerians is unacceptable,” said Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President.
The removal of fuel subsidy has been a contentious issue in Nigeria since 2012. The Nigerian government has been subsidizing the price of petrol, keeping the cost of petrol low for citizens. However, the government has argued that the subsidy has become too costly and unsustainable, and with oil prices dropping in the global market, it has removed the subsidy.
The NLC has called for a nationwide strike, effective from Monday, June 7th, 2023. The strike is expected to paralyze economic activities in Nigeria, as the NLC has also called on other civil society groups to join the strike.
The NLC’s decision has been met with mixed reactions. While some Nigerians support the union’s decision, others are worried about the impact of the strike on the economy.
“The NLC has a right to protest, but the strike will hurt businesses and ordinary people who depend on daily wages to feed their families,” said Tunji Adeyemi, a Lagos-based business owner.
In conclusion, the NLC’s decision to go on strike over the removal of fuel subsidy has generated mixed reactions in Nigeria. The union has argued that the removal of the subsidy would increase the cost of living for Nigerians. The strike, which is expected to begin on Monday, has been called to protest the government’s decision. The impact of the strike on the economy remains uncertain.
