The federal government is set to engage in a crucial discussion with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) today at 2 pm regarding the proposed fuel subsidy elimination.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, made this revelation on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Wednesday.
Ajaero emphasised that the labour union’s stance has consistently maintained that, even if President Bola Tinubu has good intentions, viable alternatives must be provided.
He expressed the belief that the President should have sought input and considered the ramifications of removing fuel subsidy for everyday Nigerians.
Among the alternatives proposed by the NLC president were the repair of the nation’s four refineries and providing transportation alternatives for Nigerian workers.
Recall that in his inaugural speech at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Monday, President Tinubu declared an end to the era of fuel subsidy payments.
He highlighted that the 2023 budget did not allocate funds for fuel subsidy and argued that subsidy payments were no longer justifiable. Instead, Tinubu pledged to redirect funds toward infrastructure development and other areas aimed at bolstering the economy.
Following the President’s announcement, fuel queues have reappeared across the country as Nigerians scramble to obtain the increasingly expensive product.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has supported Tinubu’s stance on fuel subsidy removal. However, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has argued that the President cannot unilaterally make decisions on subsidy removal. They pointed out that the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari deliberately deferred addressing this “sensitive issue” to the new government.
