The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) embarked on a two-day warning strike to protest the Federal Government’s inaction in addressing the challenges stemming from the removal of fuel subsidy.
The strike follows NLC President Joe Ajaero’s recent declaration, amplifying concerns over soaring fuel prices and an escalating cost of living since President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of the “fuel subsidy is gone” during his May 29 inaugural speech.
The NLC accuses the Federal Government of abandoning negotiations and failing to implement resolutions from previous meetings. On August 2, organized labor protested against what they termed “anti-people policies” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Demonstrations led by the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC), and their affiliate unions took place in multiple states, including Lagos, Abia, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Zamfara, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kwara, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo.
The protests followed a seven-day ultimatum demanding the immediate reversal of various “anti-poor policies,” including the recent PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) price hike, increased public school fees, and the release of eight months’ withheld university lecturers’ and workers’ salaries.
Additionally, the unions called for an upward review of the minimum wage from N30,000 to N200,000, citing the adverse effects of the “subsidy is gone” declaration on Nigerians’ well-being.
Despite several meetings between the Presidency and the unions to address the hardship caused by fuel subsidy removal, no concrete solutions have emerged.
NLC President Joe Ajaero emphasized the inadequacy of the N5 billion approved for each state and the FCT as a cushion against the impact of subsidy removal, highlighting that it would amount to less than N1,500 per person, raising questions about whether this sum constitutes a loan or a palliative measure.
Ajaero expressed concern that the initial and subsequent fuel price increases have pushed many Nigerians deeper into poverty, urging a thorough examination of how the N5 billion allocation will genuinely benefit the populace.