The two umbrella labour organisations in the country — the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress –today called for a nationwide strike starting from Monday January 9, to put pressure on the Federal Government to reverse its decision removing the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit or petrol, and revert the price of the product to N65 per litre.
In a joint statement read to journalists by the NLC President, Abdulwaheed Umar, at the end of their meeting Wednesday, the unions stated: “After exhaustive deliberations and consultations with all sections of the populace, the NLC, TUC and their pro-people allies demand that the presidency immediately reverses fuel prices to N65.”
They directed that indefinite strike, mass rallies and street protests be held all over the country with effect from Monday 9th January, 2012 if the government fails to abide by their demand.
The NLC and the TUC expressed opposition to the removal of petroleum subsidy and deplored its impact on Nigerians in just three days.
They advised Nigerians to store food at home and be ready for the strike, while calling on the security operatives not to unleash terror on the people as they intend to be peaceful in their agitations.
The labour unions also announced that they will not send a representative to the subsidy reinvestment board just set up by the federal government to manage the funds that will be saved as a result of the removal of petrol subsidy, saying it is a phony board not recognised by the law and lacks the powers to decide how the nation’s wealth is spent.
But the government insists that the withdrawal of petroleum subsidy is an important sacrifice Nigerians have to make for the development of the country.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos today, the president of TUC, Mr. Peter Esele, noted that there’s no going back on the communique of the emergency meeting between both bodies.
He warned Nigerians to stay away from work or join in the protest that will be staged on the day the strike commences.
With this coming from the nation’s most powerful labour bodies, the protests witnessed in 10 Nigerian cities in the past few days might just pass for a child’s play.