The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday said its protest scheduled to commence in seven days is aimed at liberating Nigerians from the shackles of government policies which have caused citizens pain.
This followed an earlier seven-day ultimatum by the NLC to President Bola Tinubu’s administration to reverse “all anti-poor” policies, including the hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), known as petrol.
The NLC president, Joe Ajaero, said the union was still analysing the situation with the possibility that the government policy could further plague already dire conditions.
“The situation would be worsened.
It is rather a move to rescue Nigerians, to see whether the government can show some level of empathy for us to do things differently to enable Nigerians to survive,” he said.
Almost two months, President Bola Tinubu, in his May 29 inaugural address, declared that “fuel subsidy is gone”.
The policy led to a near-instant hike in fuel prices from around N185 to N500, and up to N617 last week. With rising transportation costs and food prices, thousands have resorted to trekking long distances.
The NLC President argued that the imminent industrial action is to reduce the impact the government’s policies have had on the people at large.
According to a communiqué at the end of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held on Tuesday, the NLC threatened to embark on a protest, starting Wednesday, August 2, 2023, should the Federal Government fail to do the needful.
However, in swift reaction, the Federal Ministry of Justice, through the solicitor-general of the federation, Mrs B.E. Jedy-Agba said the the planned strike action is avowed penchant of the leadership of the union for casting aspersions on the Judiciary which she claimed is quite worrisome and concerning.
