The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a letter to its 43 affiliated unions, instructing them to prepare for a nationwide strike set to commence on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. The strike is in response to the elimination of fuel subsidy.
Emmanuel Ugboaja, the General Secretary of the NLC, signed the letter, urging all affiliated unions to participate in the nationwide strike and mobilize their members accordingly.
Additionally, the NLC has requested that the leadership of these unions ensure strict adherence to the directives. It is expected that services in both the public and private sectors will be completely withdrawn by Wednesday.
Notable affiliates involved in the strike include the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), among others.
The letter states, “We extend greetings from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress. As you may recall, during the National Executive Council meeting on June 2, 2023, it was resolved that the Congress would embark on a nationwide action and withdraw services to protest the fraudulent increase in fuel prices across the thirty-six states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the FCT.
“Kindly be informed that the nationwide action will commence on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Accordingly, all national leaders are expected to mobilize their members for this action and ensure full compliance with the directives, as services in both the public and private sectors are to be completely withdrawn by Wednesday, June 7, 2023. We count on all Presidents and General Secretaries to assist in implementing the decisions of the National Executive Council.”
It should be noted that President Bola Tinubu, in his inaugural speech, declared the removal of fuel subsidy, leading to an increase in petrol prices throughout the country.
In response to the President’s announcement, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) revised the pump price of petrol from around N185 to over N500.
Despite receiving support from the NNPCL and the House of Representatives, Tinubu’s decision has been met with opposition from the NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.
The organized labor has demanded a reversal of the fuel subsidy removal and has threatened to stage a protest the following Wednesday to express their disapproval of the increased petrol prices.
