Ahead of the scheduled meeting between the Federal Government and organized labor, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has insisted that the government must fulfill its demands to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal. The NLC warned that it would not hesitate to call for industrial action if its demands were not met, highlighting that the planned strike had only been suspended.
According to Punch Newspapers, the union emphasized the unbearable hardships faced by Nigerians due to the high cost of fuel and urged the government to swiftly provide palliatives. Additionally, the NLC expressed its expectation of an increase in the minimum wage from N30,000 to N150,000.
Previously, on June 5, 2023, the Federal Government and labor unions met and agreed to reconvene on June 19 to determine the implementation framework for the resolutions reached. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, who led the government delegation, had disclosed the seven-point resolution aimed at mitigating the impact of subsidy removal.
When asked about labor’s expectations for the upcoming meeting, Adewale Adeyanju, Vice President of the NLC, stressed that the government should not take the situation lightly and mentioned the need to revamp refineries and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products. Adeyanju expressed optimism that the meeting would be productive and reiterated that the NLC’s position would depend on the government’s response.
Regarding the proposal by oil marketers for the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas at filling stations, Adeyanju mentioned the establishment of a technical committee by the government to address the matter. He cautioned against preempting the outcomes of the meeting and underscored the nation’s scrutiny of how the NLC would handle the situation, given the challenges faced by the country, including the increased fuel pump price