Federal Government representatives are expected to meet with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) today by 2pm over the planned removal of fuel subsidy.
Joe Ajaero, NLC National President, disclosed this during an interview Wednesday morning on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily programme.
In his inaugural speech on Monday, Tinubu had said “petrol subsidy is gone.” The statement immediately sparked panic buying and fuel queues across the nation.
Weighing in, Ajaero said the President should have asked questions and found out the implications of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians on the streets.
He listed the alternatives to include the repair of the nation’s four refineries, provision of transportation of alternatives for the Nigerian workers, amongst others.
The NLC boss said: “Government seems to have shown interest in discussion. As at last night, they reached out and we have fixed 2pm today (Wednesday) to commence discussion.
“There, all other issues will be discussed because you can’t just say there is no subsidy and then you are not producing and leave us to the vagaries of the market, to people who want to sell the product they bought for N10 for N100 to maximize profit. If there is no more garri, we must find out what to eat.
“The pronouncement by Mr President is as good as law and if in the process we make a law that is not practicable, the same people that made the law can look at it,” Ajaero said while calling for a review of the President’s pronouncement.
“Does it bring pleasure to us to say subsidy is gone and people start suffering? Is it not part of leadership for us to look at how the suffering of the people can be reduced?”
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