Fuel Subsidy: Senate urges NLC to shelve planned strike

The Nigerian Senate has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve its impending strike on fuel subsidy removal and continue negotiation with the Federal Government. Senate resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a motion at plenary on Monday. The motion titled: ”Urgent Need to Avert the Intending Strike of the Nigeria Labour Congress”, was sponsored by Sen. Kawu Suleiman (NNPP-Kano). Suleiman in his lead debate said the NLC has given the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to reverse what the union termed as “anti-poor policies” or face an indefinite nationwide strike from August 2nd. He said the NLC had directed all its affiliates and state councils to immediately begin mobilisation of workers and other Nigerians, including civil society allies for a long-lasting strike and mass protests. Suleiman said the labour, in a statement signed by its National President, Joe Ajaero, alleged that the Federal Government had failed to meet up with the demands it presented to it following subsidy removal on petrol. Not meeting the demand as stated in the statement could cause an astronomical rise in price of the commodity. He expressed worry that the strike would cripple the country as commercial transport operators would withdraw their services, while markets, schools and healthcare facilities would be forced to shut down. According to him, the action could heat up the polity when it occurred, saying that gains from the strike were far below the costs to either of the parties in conflict. The senator said the strike threat by the NLC, if not averted, could plunge Nigeria into deeper economic woes, dislocate businesses, hunger, and frustration. Suleiman said more hardship would lead to unquantifiable financial losses and reduce Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He said the NLC proposed strike was a bad reputation for Nigerian economy and the educational system, saying that it portrayed the country in a bad light to the external world  According to him, it discourages foreigners from coming to do business or study in Nigeria. The senator said that the society always bears the brunt of strikes, adding that an idle mind was the devil’s workshop. He said there was a tendency for an increase in crime rate, social vices like armed robbery, oil bunkering, prostitution, cyber scams, among others, if the strike was allowed to hold. Following support of senators on the motion, Senate accordingly resolved to mandate its leadership to interface between the NLC and the Federal Government to avert the intending strike.

Tinubu to address Nigerians amid nationwide hardship

On Monday, July 31, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will deliver a broadcast to the nation at 7 pm. The announcement was made on Monday morning by Dele Alake, the presidential spokesman, urging television, radio stations, and other electronic media outlets to tune in to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast. Though the specific content of the address remains undisclosed, it comes at a time when the country is grappling with widespread hardship due to the removal of fuel subsidy, leading to an increase in petrol prices. President Tinubu has consistently appealed for calm, assuring the public that the government is diligently working to improve living conditions and alleviate the prevailing challenges. Interestingly, this address coincides with an upcoming nationwide protest by the organized labour, which is parleying civil society organisations as they prepare for an industrial action on August 2, and the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The NARD has rejected the recent 25% increment in basic salary announced by the federal government, demanding the full restoration of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to its original value as approved in 2009. The association, represented by its president, Dr. Orji Emeka Innocent, secretary-general Dr. Chikezie Kelechi, and publicity and social secretary Dr. Umar Musa, vows to continue the nationwide total and indefinite strike action until the government takes significant steps to address their demands, including the release of the circular on the One-for-One policy for the replacement of exited clinical workers to ease work overload caused by brain drain. As Nigerians await President Tinubu’s address on Monday night, the nation is at a crucial juncture, grappling with pressing issues that demand immediate attention and resolution.