Sanwo-Olu begs NLC to abort planned strike

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State is pleading with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) not to embark on its planned strike.

The NLC had threatened to strike on Wednesday after the prices of petroleum went up in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s announcement that the fuel “subsidy is gone”.

However, Governor Sanwo-Olu has urged the labour union to abort the planned action, saying the NLC and the Federal Government should liaise to fashion out ways to cushion the impact of the removal.

Gov. @jidesanwoolu, Deputy Gov. @drobafemihamzat at second term inauguration thanksgiving Service at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, on Sunday, 4th June 2023.@JokeSanwoolu @gboyegaakosile @hmokunola_ @gbenga_omo#LASG #AGreaterLagosRising pic.twitter.com/twHngAqsZm

— The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) June 4, 2023

“So, I want to plead with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that it should not turn it into a political thing because we are beginning to see that. The leadership should indeed know that they are leading a pack of people and they need to restrain themselves,” he said on Sunday after a post-inauguration “Thanksgiving Service” at the Cathedral Church of Christ in Marina, Lagos.

“Let us be patient; let us work around [issues around subsidy removal]. NNPCL has said to us that there is more than enough petrol to go round. So, there is no need for us to heat up the polity. Any strike would not solve anything. It will certainly not be the issue. The point would be: ‘How are we going to ensure that there is a turnaround in our economy that we can live?’”

Sanwo-Olu said that the Nigerian leader is working out plans to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal just as Lagos State has started rolling out modalities for that.

“He [Tinubu] has mentioned something around better ways. We have started that in Lagos State. We pride ourselves that we have started it in January. Other parts of the country can also do the same. So, there is no need for us to get political. It is governance now and people want to see purposeful governance. Let the man [Tinubu] settle down. He has said he will form a team that would take the country out of poverty.”