Government Representatives to Meet with Nigeria Labour Congress on Fuel Subsidy Removal

Meeting Between Government and Nigeria Labour Congress: Representatives of the Federal Government are scheduled to hold a meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) today at 2 pm. The discussion revolves around the planned removal of fuel subsidy, as announced by President Bola Tinubu in his inaugural speech.

NLC’s Position and Call for Alternatives: NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, emphasized that while recognizing the President’s intentions, alternatives must be provided alongside the removal of fuel subsidy. Ajaero stated that questions should have been asked about the implications of this decision on the Nigerian people. The NLC proposed alternatives such as repairing the nation’s refineries and providing transportation alternatives for Nigerian workers.

Concerns and Call for Review: Ajaero expressed concern about the potential hardships faced by the citizens due to the subsidy removal. He questioned the leadership’s responsibility to reduce the suffering of the people and called for a review of the President’s pronouncement. The organized labor, including the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress, criticized Tinubu’s declaration as a “joke taken too far.”

With today’s meeting between the government and the NLC, there is hope that a lasting solution can be reached regarding the fuel subsidy removal. It is worth noting that the subsidy’s removal aims to redirect funds towards the development of other sectors, as stated by President Tinubu