Fuel subsidy removal: NLC suspends January 27 nationwide protest

AKOR SYLVESTER, Abuja and MICHAEL-AZEEZ OGUNSIJI, Abeokuta

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its planned protest over the proposed federal government’s decision to increase petrol pump price following government’s announced reversal on the issue.

The NLC had earlier scheduled its nationwide protest for 27th of January and 2nd of February 2022 respectively to stop government from increasing the price of petrol.

But in a statement signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba and the General secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja in Abuja Tuesday said the congress decided to suspend the planned protest after receiving the letter from government on the reversal of its planned fuel pump price increase.

The congress described the decision to stop the planned action as a victory for Nigerian workers and Nigerians as a whole.

The statement by the congress reads in part: “Fellow Nigerian workers and citizens, you would recall that on the 23rd of November 2021, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning at the launch of the World Bank Development Update disclosed to Nigerians the policy of the removal of subsidy on the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also commonly known as ‘petrol’ or ‘fuel’. The policy of removal of petrol subsidy, as we all know, has become a euphemism for a hike in the pump price of petrol.

“The attendant effect of the proposed removal of petrol subsidy would push the pump price of petrol to between N320 and N340 per litre.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that this would have terribly exacerbated the current scourge of inflation in the country, deepened poverty, heightened social tensions and push the country and millions of poor her citizens to the very precipice.

“Immediately, the Minister of Finance unveiled government’s plans on petrol price, the Nigeria Labour Congress issued a press statement on the 24 of November 2021 condemning the proposed policy of government and warned of the dire consequences that would follow the implementation of the policy. The Nigeria Labour Congress went on to convene national organ meetings to deliberate on the issue.

“After series of statutory organ meetings culminating in a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which took place on the 17th of December 2021, the Nigeria Labour Congress renewed its traditional position of resisting incessant increase in the pump price of petrol.

“The NEC went ahead to give directives for the mobilization of workers and citizens for national protests if the Federal Government refuse to reverse the planned hike in the pump price of petrol.

“At the peak of very rigorous mobilization of Nigerians by the Nigeria Labour Congress and a host of her Civil Society allies, the government through the Minister of Finance yesterday, 24th January 2022 made a public announcement reversing the plans to increase petrol pump price.

“The position of the government was also officially communicated to the Congress with calls for further engagement.

“Following the reversal and reapproach by government, the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress met this morning virtually to consider the new position of the government.
“The NEC after vigorous debates took a decision to suspend the planned nationwide protest scheduled for 27″ January 2022 and the national protest scheduled for 2” February 2022.

“The leadership of the Congress has communicated this organ decision to our civil society allies who have stood stoically behind Nigerian workers in our quest for social and economic justice for workers and the downtrodden people of our country.

“Going forward, we will continue to engage with the government on the very critical issues of ensuring local refining of petroleum, creation of sustainable jobs and affordable price of petrol for Nigerian workers and people.

“Finally, we commend the Nigerian workers and people particularly our civil society allies for their unwavering solidarity and support during this struggle. We sure are stronger together!”.

Similarly, on Tuesday at a press conference held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade Emmanuel Bankole said that the labour union was calling off the protest following the federal government decision to halt the proposed fuel increase.

Bankole noted that “after considering so many factors, the consensus opinion to the public was to put on hold proposed protest since government has agreed to put on hold the fuel increment.

“A meeting was held in December and we came to a decision that any day if we wake up and we heard any involvement that the government has increase the price, they should just shut down the country without waiting for further instruction.

“After considering so much on the proposal, the congress has agreed to put on hold the proposed protest. We wanted to go to protest because of the planned fuel hike by FG.

“We urged them to revive the refinery and eat what we produce. It is unethical practices what is going on in the oil sector, rather than removing subsidy, the government should remove corruption surrounding the oil sector.

“On the strength of the government shelving the proposed increase, we are also postponing our protests. I can appreciate the feeling of people, if there’s no resistance from Labour, they won’t put it on hold.”

In his reaction, the representatives of the NLC President, Comrade Olatunji Goke commended Nigerian workers for their doggedness and cooperation in complying with the leadership directives.

For a better society