NLC declares two-day warning strike over fuel subsidy removal

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has declared a two-day nationwide warning strike over failure of the federal government to address difficulties occassioned by the removal of petrol subsidy in the country.

The NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, made the declaration on Friday during a press conference at the Labour House in Abuja.

Comrade Ajaero made the declaration while speaking on resolutions by the NLC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting the previous day.

According to the NLC through its president, the federal government has failed to meet the demands raised by the organized labour on critical issues affecting Nigerians and the consequences of the fuel subsidy removal.

Comrade Ajaero stated that the two-day nationwide warning strike will begin on Tuesday, September 5 and that the organised labour will afterwards, embark on an indefinite and total shutdown of the country if nothing is done on the expiration of the warning strike.

The strike, according to the labour leader, was to demonstrate discontent with the federal government over its failure to establish essential structures to address the widespread suffering of Nigerians occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.

The NLC argues that this was not in line with some of the resolutions from met between it’s members and the federal government at previous meetings that were held.

According to Ajaero, the decision was reached on Thursday evening after an all-inclusive session meeting of the congress’ National Executive Council (NEC) that had analysed the prevailing national issues.

He further stated that the NLC NEC has considered the government’s deliberate neglect and disregard for engaging with national stakeholders through the channels of social dialogue, a commitment it declared during the President’s inaugural address on May 29, 2023.

The organised labour also said the strike will involve mass protest and rally in Imo State against the state government’s abuse and violation of the rights and privileges of workers and trade unions in the state.

Recall that on August 2, the NLC held a protest on what it described as the anti-people policies of the current administration.

The meeting sought to draw attention to what the organized labour members considered lapses in some of the policies being introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

In lieu of this, the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and their affiliate unions had in Abuja and several other states, including Lagos, Abia, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano and Rivers, demonstrated via a peaceful protest against the backdrops of the present administration and questionable policies being introduced.

The protest also took place in Zamfara, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kwara, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo.

The protest was due to a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government demanding the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the federal government.

The policies include the recent hike in PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) price, increase in public school fees, the release of the eight months withheld salary of university lecturers and workers”.

Also, the union demanded an upward review of the minimum wage from N30,000 to N200,000, saying that since the President’s “subsidy is gone” inauguration speech of May 29, 2023, the peace of mind of Nigerians has gone.

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