President not consistent on petrol subsidy removal –NLC, TUC

By AKOR SYLVESTER-Abuja

As reactions continue to trail President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s inaugural speech yesterday in Abuja, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said that the president contradicted himself over the issue of fuel subsidy removal and decision taking in his administration.

This is as the Nigeria Labour Congress ,(NLC,) said the removal of subsidy as announced by the president was a mere pronouncement until it translates to figures

The congress said the same president that said he will not take decision without consulting Nigerians can not turn around to announce immediate removal of subsidy.

The General Secretary of the TUC, Nuhu Toro, who spoke to Daily Champion on telephone, said the congress will not take the president by his words on subsidy, maintaining that he was contradictory in his speech.

According to him, “the president told Nigeria in his speech that he will  not take discions without wide consultation, and will not be a dictator. President Tinibu seems to be speaking from both sides of his mouth,  which seems contradictory in our view.  Congress will issue a statement in response soon .

“On one hand he is saying subsidy is gone, while on the other hand he is saying he will not be a dictator”, .

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had said in his inaugural  speech that subsidy is gone, adding that it will be reset to meet the demands of the people.

“We commend the decision of the outgoing administration in phasing out the petrol subsidy regime which has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor.

“Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions”, the president said..

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC said the immediate past government had played politics with subsidy, noting that several pronouncements were made about fuel subsidy removal without being translated to figures.

The General Secretary of the congress, Benson Upah, who spoke to Daily Champion on telephone, said the concern of the congress is about the translation of the subsidy removal to figures for Nigerians to see and benefit from.

On the claim by the president that the election that brought him to power reflected the will of the people, the congress secretary said the congress had earlier stated its stand that the election was marred with malpractices, irregularities and killings.