The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have given conditional support to the removal of the fuel subsidy. Further, the two labour bodies will give their consent if Tinubu’s administration meets their conditions. They want the repair and revitalisation of government refineries across the country and allow modular refineries.
If his administration fails to do so, they will oppose the subsidy removal. Also, they would mobilize workers to protest against the decision.
Recently, the regime of the President, Muhammadu Buhari, announced that the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as “petrol,” would be removed. Also, it would be removed before the end of its tenure on May 29, 2023.Equally important, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, explained that the subsidy removal was delayed. This was due to the 2023 general election and the planned population census.
Also, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said the government would hand over the reins. The incoming administration would carry out the implementation of petrol subsidy removal and palliative measures. But the NLC and the TUC noted that there would only be a conditional acceptance of the removal of subsidy.
Specifically, the union remained opposed to the removal of the fuel subsidy. This was confirmed in an interview with one of the principal officers of the NLC and President of the National Union of Local Government Employees, Hakeem Ambali. Therefore, the Nigerian government needs to act responsibly by fixing our moribund refineries.
It is a shame that Nigerians are made to suffer for the incompetence of the government. Nigeria is the only oil producing country in the world that imports petroleum products. So, let the government license and serve as the regulator by standardizing the operation of private refineries to service the domestic value chain.
The National President, National Union of Teachers, Titus Amba, said the union would stand by the decision of the NLC on fuel subsidy removal.