THE Labour movement in Nigeria, under the aegis of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have declared a nationwide strike from Wednesday, June 7, 2023 to protest the decision of the Federal Government to increase the pump price of petrol, following its discontinuation of fuel subsidy payments.
The NLC said the strike action would be implemented if the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) fails to reverse the new pump price for the Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) by then.
President Bola Tinubu had during his inaugural speech on Monday, May 29, 2023, announced the removal of fuel subsidy, declaring: “Subsidy is gone.”
His media minders in separate statements later tried to douse tension by saying their boss was misquoted by some sections of the media.
The President’s announcement resulted in immediate rise in panic buying, with some filling stations pegging the pump price of petrol to as high as N600 per litre.
But on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, the NNPCL announced new pump prices for different states.
Following dissent from the Labour, government representatives met with the officials of the NLC,but the meeting ended without any resolution.
The NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, at the end of the emergency National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Friday, June 2, 2023, said: “The NLC NEC directs all state councils and industrial unions to commence mobilisation from this moment.”
