By Latiifah Amusan
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has intensified its mobilization efforts in preparation for a nationwide strike set to begin on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
The strike is aimed at protesting the removal of fuel subsidies and the resultant hardship faced by citizens.
According to a schedule obtained by The Punch in Abuja, the NLC has called on Nigerians to join them at the Unity Fountain in Abuja at 7 am on Wednesday to express their grievances collectively.
The NLC has criticized the Federal Government’s decision to remove fuel subsidies, stating that it exposes ordinary citizens to avoidable pain and hardship.
The Congress demands that the government take decisive action against the criminal content of the subsidy and fix domestic refineries to cater to fuel consumption within the country.
Furthermore, the NLC expressed concern over the government’s recent monetary policies, emphasizing the need for the government to control and protect the national currency from market forces.
The NLC said,
“There is nowhere in the world where government leaves its citizens totally to the vagaries of the market without some measure of control and protection. The Federal Government should immediately deal decisively with the criminal content of subsidy instead of exposing ordinary citizens to avoidable pain and hardship.
“As a matter of national importance, it is imperative to fix all our refineries to be able to cater to domestic fuel consumption.”
The National Treasurer of the NLC, Hakeem Ambali, revealed that the government had shunned a meeting with labor leaders at the State House on July 28, 2023.
This lack of engagement has further escalated tensions between the government and Labor unions.
The NLC also reiterated its demands for the immediate reversal of “anti-poor policies” and the release of withheld salaries, including those of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Meanwhile, academic unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, have begun mobilizing their members to join the nationwide strike in solidarity with the NLC.
In addition, northern youths under the Arewa Citizen Watch for Good Governance have also announced their intentions to protest the subsidy removal.
They demand the sacking of Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited, for allegedly misleading the President regarding the subsidy removal.
The group also warned against renewing the Pipeline Surveillance Contract to former Niger Delta militant, Government Tompolo, and insisted that the protection of national assets should be the responsibility of the nation’s armed forces.
