The Federal Government, and by extension, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, must act appropriately by returning to the status quo, according to the Nigeria Labour Congress, which has stated that it will not withdraw its intended industrial action for Wednesday.
Independent News reported that NLC reaffirmed its stance in a statement released on Sunday by the Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah.
According to Upah, this scenario only exists in their imagination because the Nigeria Labour Congress is still the largest institution that unites all of Nigeria under a single national vision and objective.
“With regard to the impending strike action, we want to reassure you that all of the affiliated unions of the Congress will stand solidly behind you on Wednesday and pursue legal action if the NNPC and government fail to take the necessary steps.
“While primal emotions like religion, region, or nationality may be a haven for some, they have no place at the Nigeria Labour Congress. We are concerned about issues like the senseless and illegal increase in the price of PMS at the pump, which will put additional strain on Nigeria’s already destitute underprivileged communities,” NLC stated.
According to NLC, neither the North nor the South-West will bear the brunt of this cruel agenda at the expense of other regions of the country. There is therefore no justification for these regions to call off the strike.
As a result of the Federal Government’s abrupt elimination of fuel subsidies, the National Union of Electricity Employers has told its members to stop providing services nationally starting on Wednesday. In the meantime, a nationwide blackout is expected.
The NUEE urged its members to follow the instruction and begin the strike on June 7 in an announcement signed by the acting general secretary, Dominic Igwebike.
However, on Sunday, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu also urged the Nigeria Labour Congress to postpone its scheduled statewide strike in protest over the removal of fuel subsidies.
The governor declared that a strike would not fix any problems or deal with the problem. “The focus ought to be on how to ensure a sustained turnaround in our economy.”
“Therefore, I beg the NLC not to make the subsidy issue a political one. The leadership should be aware that they are leading people, thus they must exercise restraint,” he said.
