The Nigeria Labour Congress has called an emergency meeting of its National Working Committee for Tuesday, to take a decision on the increasing demand for the removal of fuel subsidy by some sections of the Nigerian society. This is as the Trade Union Congress promised to resist any move by the Federal Government to remove fuel subsidy.
The General Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the scheduled meeting would deliberate on critical issues affecting the workers and the citizens.
Ozo-Eson, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Saturday, listed the areas of deliberation to include the current pressure on the government to remove the subsidy on petroleum products, planned increase of electricity tariff, and plans by some state governors to reduce workers’ pay.
He said the NLC was opposed to the removal of the fuel subsidy because of its grave implication on the working population and other Nigerians.
He said, “We remain opposed to the calls for the removal of the fuel subsidy. We think those who are calling for the removal do not understand the implication of removing it, it has serious implications.
“Based on this renewed call for the removal of fuel subsidy, we have called an emergency meeting of the Central Working Committee of the congress for Tuesday at 1pm to discuss these issues.
“These are the issues of new pressure for the removal of subsidy, the issue of the plan for the increase of electricity tariff and the illegal move by some governors to reduce the minimum wage.”
Meanwhile, the president of the TUC, Mr. Bala Kaigama, urged the Federal Government to adopt measures against those behind the diversion of the ideals of the subsidy rather than punishing innocent Nigerians for the fraud.
He said the TUC was ready to collaborate with the NLC and the civil society movement in the country to resist the conspiracy against the subsidy.
He said, “We are against the removal of the subsidy. The rich few who are behind the subsidy scam should be punished and not the innocent Nigerian citizenry. We are saying this because the moment you remove it, the prices of all essential commodities will increase. Transportation, housing and other essential services would increase.”
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