In a bid to push the Federal Government to back tract on removal of subsidy on petroleum products, Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC has declared a nationwide strike on Wednesday next week.
NLC President Joe Ajaero who made the announcement on Friday after an emergency meeting of the union at Abuja said the decision follows shortage of fuel across the Country following president Tinubu’s inaugural speech wherein he pronounced removal of subsidy for petroleum products.
Recall that on Monday President Tinubu had disclosed that the 2023 budget made no provision for fuel subsidy, hence payment was no longer justifiable.
He said the government would instead channel subsidy funds into infrastructure and other areas to strengthen the economy.
The announcement has led to fuel price hike, scarcity of the product and long queues in filling stations across the country. A litre of Petrol has jumped to more than N500 with attendant rise in transport fare.
Speaking to the Press, Ajaero said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has up until Wednesday next week to revert to the old price of petrol saying failure of the Federal Government to meet the ultimatum would attract an indefinite protest across the country.
Recall that on Wednesday, two days after his inauguration, Bola Ahmed Tinubu had met with labour to address the new development. However, the hour-long meeting ended in fiasco.
The NLC demanded that the Federal Government return to status quo by reversing the price of fuel before resuming negotiations with labour.
Ajaero insisted that the government did not enter into any conversation even on palliative measures for Nigerians, hence the reason an industrial action has been scheduled to commence next Wednesday.