The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has dared the Federal Government by issuing a seven-day ultimatum to the President Bola Tinubu administration to reverse “all anti-poor” people policies including the hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as petrol.
In a communiqué at the end of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held on Tuesday, the labour union threatened to embark on a total and indefinite strike from Wednesday, August 2, 2023 if the Federal Government fails to do the needful.
Also read; Fuel subsidy removal: NLC declares nationwide strike
The communiqué co-signed by NLC President, Joe Ajaero; and the union’s General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja said the Federal Government has shown enormous disdain and contempt for the Nigerian people and has declared a war of attrition on Nigerian workers and masses.
The labour union said since the President’s “subsidy is gone forever” speech on inauguration day on May 29, 2023, “the peace of mind of Nigerians has gone.”
It said the “government has continued to treat Nigerians as slaves and a conquered people which it treats with impunity without any concern on the consequences.”
“That the Federal Government has continued in an unholy mission of robbing the poor to pay the rich in Nigeria as typified by its continued frustration of the activation of the agreed alternatives to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and new hike in prices of PMS to N617 per litre,” the communiqué partly read.
“That the NNPCL (Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited), has turned itself into the forces of demand and supply and fixes the price of Petroleum products while mouthing deregulation.
“That Government’s conduct suggests it does not intend to commit itself to the MoU it signed with NLC and TUC (Trade Union Congress).
The NLC thereafter demanded “the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the federal government including the recent hike in PMS price, increase in public school fees, the release of the eight months withheld Salary of university lecturers and workers.”
Others include the immediate inauguration of the Presidential Steering Committee.
The union gave “the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum within which to meet all our demands and to embark on a nation-wide action beginning Wednesday the 2nd of August, 2023 to compel the government to reverse its anti-poor and anti- workers policies.”
The NLC threatened to lead and organise mass protest rallies across the nation to demonstrate outrage against the “inhuman actions and policies” of the government.
Recall that the National Industrial Court declared that the order barring the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress from embarking on their planned strike subsists.
The court, as a result, ordered the parties to maintain the status quo and adjourned the matter until July 20, for a hearing.
Recall that on June 7, the NLC and TUC had planned to embark on a nationwide strike in protest of the fuel subsidy removal.
