The Nigerian Labour movement says it was taken aback, even horrified, when newly inaugurated President Bola Tinubu announced the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products.
A statement by the trade union congress says if by this, Tinubu means increases in pump price and the exploitation of the people by unregulated and exploitative deregulated prices, then it is a joke taken too far.
The statement jointly signed by TUC President Festus Osifo and Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, says It is not for nothing that the Buhari government pushed fuel subsidy matters to the new administration, but expects the Tinubu government to be wise on such a sensitive issue and be more explicit in its pronouncement to avoid contradictory interpretations when comparing his written statement, what he said and the provision in 2023 appropriation act.
The TUC Says it is a very delicate issue that touches on the lives, if not very survival, of particularly the working class people, hence ought to have been treated with utmost caution, and should have been preceded by robust dialogue and consultation with, the representatives of the working people, including professionals, market people, students and the poor masses.
TUC Uses the statement to demand that President Tinubu should tarry awhile to give room for robust dialogue and consultation and stakeholders engagement, just as he opined in his speech until all issues and questions are resolved
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Labour says the Nigerian Worker and indeed the mases must not be made to suffer the inefficiency of successive governments.
Labour is equally expressing worry that in Tinubu’s speech he failed to delve into or reveal his plans on how to tackle and address the issue of poor and unchecked deterioration in industrial relations, particularly in the education, health and judiciary sectors, often resulting in prolonged strike and Industrial actions and their attendant adverse effects on society and the economy, with particular reference to the nationwide strike by JOHESU.
(Editor : Ena Agbanoma)
