Federal Government representatives are expected to meet with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) today by 2pm over the planned removal of fuel subsidy.
โGovernment seems to have shown interest in discussion. As at last night, they reached out and we have fixed 2pm today (Wednesday) to commence discussion,โ NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, said on Channels Televisionโs Sunrise Daily programme on Wednesday.
โThere, all other issues will discussed because you canโt just say there no subsidy and then you are not producing and leave us to the vagaries of the market, to people who want to sell the product they bought for N10 for N100 to maximise profit. If there is no more garri, we must find out what to eat.โ
He said the position of Labour has been clear that even if President Bola Tinubu has a good intention, alternatives must be provided.
He said the President should have asked questions and find out the implications of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians on the streets.
The NLC boss listed the alternatives to include the repair of the nationโs four refineries, provision of transportation of alternatives for the Nigerian workers, amongst others.
โThe pronouncement by Mr President is as good as law and if in the process we make a law that is not practicable, the same people that made the law can look at it,โ Ajaero said while calling for a review of the Presidentโs pronouncement.
โDoes it bring pleasure to us to say subsidy is gone and people start suffering? Is it not part of leadership for us to look at how the suffering of the people can be reduced?โ he asked.
Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has said that the deregulation of the oil sector and subsidy removal is the only way to make Nigeria great.
โRemoving subsidy is the only answer to make Nigeria great,โ IPMAN National Public Relations Officer, Yakubu Suleiman said on Wednesday.
