The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) will commence nationwide strike on Wednesday, next week.
Disclosing this at the end of its emergency National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on Friday, the NLC national president, Joe Ajaero, said the strike action would be embarked upon if the government fails to reverse the new pump price for Premium Motor Spirit.
The President, Bola Tinubu, during his inaugural speech on Monday, May 29, 2023, announced the removal of fuel subsidy.
“Subsidy is gone,” Tinubu had said.
Though the President’s image makers in statements issued by the state house insisted that the new president was misquoted by some sections of the media.
Tinubu’s declaration led to an increase in panic buying with some filling stations across the country pegging the pump price of petrol to as high as N600 per litre.
On Wednesday, May 31, 2023, the NNPCL announced new pump prices according to states.
Some representatives of the government also met with the officials of the NLC, a meeting which ended in a deadlock.
However at the end of its NEC meeting on Friday, the national president of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, while briefing journalists said, “The NLC NEC directs all state councils and industrial unions to commence mobilisation from this moment.”
Also, the General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Uboaja in a statement issued on Friday, enjoined all state chairpersons to ensure full compliance with the directive.
The statement reads; ” You will recall that arising from the National Executive meeting held on 2nd June, 2023, it was decided that congress will embark on a nation wide action and withdrawal of services against the fradulent increase in the price of fuel across the thirty six states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the FCT.
” Please be informed that the nationwide action will commence on Wednesday, 7th June, 2023. To this effect, we request that all state chairpersons should mobilize workers for the action and ensure full compliance with the directives as services in both the public and private sector are expected to be fully withdrawn by Wednesday, 7th June, 2023.
”All state chairpersons are expected to fully abide by the decision of the National Executive Council”.