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Fuel Subsidy Removal: ‘Strike Will Solve Nothing’ — Sanwo-Olu Urges NLC To Dialogue
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President Tinubu’s inaugural speech triggered a hike in the pump price for fuel.
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Although the subsidy was expected to run until June 30, filling stations, including the federal government-owned NNPC, started selling petrol at an average price of N500.
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The situation has forced a threat of a strike action from the leading labour group in the country.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has asked the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) not to go on strike over the petrol subsidy removal.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu, during his inauguration speech on May 29, declared that “petrol subsidy is gone”.
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The president’s pronouncement immediately led to long queues at fuel stations and a hike in the pump price of the product across the country.
On Friday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) issued a five-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to revert to the old price of petrol or face a nationwide protest.
NLC president, Joe Ajaero, said the government had until Wednesday to revert to the old price of N195.
Speaking with reporters on Sunday after a post-inauguration church thanksgiving service, Sanwo-Olu urged labour leaders to join hands with the present administration in its commitment to turn the economy of the country around and make Nigeria a better place for all.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, at the post-inauguration thanksgiving service
According to the Lagos governor, an industrial action will not “solve anything at this point.”
He noted that only dialogue can deliver positive results for all parties, while urging other states to emulate Lagos State in improving workers’ wages.
“We are thankful that Mr President is a product of Lagos. We will pray for him and everything that he stands for. We believe he will replicate all the good things he has done in Lagos in our country, Nigeria,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“I want to wish and plead with our citizens even as NLC has said to us that they want to go on strike. It is not the time for a strike. During the campaign trail, everyone of our presidential candidates did say that the first thing they are going to do is to remove the subsidy.
“So, what has changed? What has the current president said or what has he done that is different from what any of the other aspirants said they would do?
“We need to be very patient. He (President Tinubu) has not even done a week. So let us talk to ourselves and say that we shouldn’t turn it political. Let us wait and support this man. He has not done a week on the job. Let him go and reflect and at the sub-national level, we are willing to support him.
“The point is no industrial strike will solve anything at this point, it will certainly not bring an end to the issue. The point will be how are we going to ensure that there is a turnaround in our economy.
“He has mentioned something about a better wage. We have started that in Lagos. We started it in January; so other parts of the country can also do the same. We don’t need to wait for the national government. We just need to reflect on what the challenges are in our country and let us solve the problem.
“I want to plead with the Nigeria Labour Congress. It shouldn’t turn into a political thing because we have begun to see that. The leadership should know that they are leading a pack of people and they need to restrain themselves. Let us be patient. Let us work around it. NNPC has said that there is more than enough petrol.”
Some hours after the governor’s plea, the Federal Government reported positive progress in its engagement with the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Addressing the State House Press Corps after the meeting, Mr. Dele Alake who is part of the government negotiation team said much progress has been made in the talks with the TUC leaders.
He revealed that a major demand from TUC is wage increase for workers to accommodate the burden of rising cost of living the subsidy removal will bring, noting that the Federal Government is not averse to wage increase as President Tinubu himself had hinted on that during his meeting with governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday.
The NLC leadership didn’t attend the Sunday meeting with the government team that had Mr. Wale Edun, Olayemi Cardoso, Group Managing Director of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, labour leader and former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole among others in attendance.
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Mr. Alake said the meeting with TUC will resume on Tuesday after further consultations by both sides to firm up resolutions.
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