The Federal Government has organized a follow-up meeting with executives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) concerning the fuel subsidy removal announced by the government last week. The meeting has been scheduled to take place today, Sunday, in Abuja, where TUC will present a series of demands.
The TUC, which has expressed its unhappiness over the government’s decision to withdraw the petroleum subsidy, has urged the government to revert to the former fuel pricing template until negotiations with organized labor are completed.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has continued to mobilize for a specified industrial action next Wednesday as the government’s recent hike in fuel prices has been met with opposition concerns. It remains unclear if the group will participate in today’s meeting.
Speaking with reporters at the end of an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Friday, TUC’s President, Festus Osifo, disclosed that TUC is unhappy about the Federal Government’s unilateral decision to remove the petroleum subsidy.
According to Osifo, “Having noted this, we wish to state that the NEC-in-session resolved that discussions with the Federal Government should continue while demanding that the government revert to the status quo ante.”
The management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has insisted that the Federal Government is indebted to them for up to N2.8 trillion, and, as a result, it can no longer afford to continue to subsidize fuel products for the country.
Since the announcement of the removal of fuel subsidies by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerians have been grieving over the hardship caused by the hike in fuel prices.
