*You cannot remove fuel subsidy by yourself alone, TUC tells Tinubu
By Emeka Ugwuanyi
The senior arm of labour union in Nigeria – Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), has condemned the unilateral removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu, which he announced in his inaugural speech yesterday, as it has unleashed undue suffering on Nigerians.
The fuel marketers, in view of the announcement by President Tinubu, have hiked the pump price of petrol (PMS) from N185 per litre to between N300 and N350 per litre. Besides, it is only a few marketers that opened their retail outlets for business. Many of the marketers have closed shops, hoarding the product, as they anticipate that a litre of PMS may rise as high as N600 to N750 per litre should the government stand by its announcement stopping fuel subsidy.
In Lagos, commuters were stranded and charged double and triple of the fares they formerly pay by the few operating commercial buses and shuttles, people filled the roads trekking, very long queues of vehicles were seen at the few filling stations selling petrol while some town shuttle owners and commercial bus drivers have parked their vehicles due to lack of access to fuel.
In a statement obtained by The Business Intelligence Africa (TBI Africa) which was issued by the
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and signed by its President, Comrade (Engr) Festus Osifo and Secretary-General, Comrade Nuhu Toro, highlighted the good and bad sides of what Tinubu said in his inaugural speech, noting the importance of dialogues and consultations with stakeholders on key and sensitive issues before going public with them.
In the statement, TUC said it is delighted by the peaceful transition from the Buhari government to the Tinubu administration and across the 28 states of the federation. “We congratulate Nigerians and the new administration at all levels even as we urge all those contesting the election results across board to keep following the rule of law as provided in the constitutional and electoral act in seeking redress.
“While listening to Tinubus’s inaugural address, we were at first encouraged, by his pledge to lead as a servant of the people (and not as a ruler) and to always consult and dialogue, especially on key and knotty national issues.
“But we were subsequently taken aback, even horrified, when he announced the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products, if by this, he means increases in pump price and the exploitation of the people by unregulated and exploitative deregulated prices, then it’s a joke taken too far.
“It is not for nothing the Buhari government pushed this to the new administration, but we expect the Tinubu government to be wise on such a sensitive issue and be more explicit in its pronouncement to avoid contradictory interpretation when comparing his written statement, what he said and the provision in 2023 appropriation act. We dare say that this is a very delicate issue that touches on the lives, if not very survival, of particularly the working people, hence ought to have been treated with utmost caution, and should have been preceded by robust dialogue and consultation with, the representatives of the working people, including professionals, market people, students and the poor masses.
“Accordingly, we hereby demand that President Tinubu should tarry awhile to give room for robust dialogue and consultation and stakeholders engagement, just as he opined in his speech until all issues and questions – and there are a host of them – to ensure that they are amicably considered and resolved. Nigerian workers and indeed mases must not be made to suffer the inefficiency of successive governments.
“We are also worried that in his speech President Tinubu failed to delve into or reveal his plans on how to tackle and address the issue of poor and unchecked deterioration in industrial relations, particularly in the education, health and judiciary sectors, often resulting in prolonged strike and Industrial actions and their attendant adverse effects on society and the economy. A case in point is the current nationwide strike by JOHESU.
“If there was anything for the administration to hurriedly address from day one in office, it’s the abysmal N30,000 minimum wage that has since been eroded by the problematic monetary and fiscal policies of government.
“The Labour Movement is open and ready to dialogue with the Tinubu administration on the fuel subsidy issue and we urge it in the interest of the country and its people not to dictate on such a matter or engage in manipulating the outcome of such consultations.
“The TUC identifies with the new government’s declaration that it will defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten peace and stability. We suggest that in its promised review of our security architecture, a more robust method of defending the country by involving the mass of the people, and empowering them to defend themselves when attacked by bandits and terrorists.
“We also are encouraged by the new government’s promise to engage in job creation, food security and end extreme poverty. In this, we urge it to involve organized labour, employers of labour, professional organisations and the informal sector. This is necessary so that these programmes would not become mere propaganda in which unverifiable statistics would be churned out periodically.
“Congress welcomes the promise to make electricity accessible and affordable to businesses and homes and, suggests that the Tinubu government begins by stopping the periodic arbitrary increases in price of electricity imposed by the distribution companies while regulatory and consumer agencies look away.
“This new administration cannot be seen to be speaking from both sides of its mouth, we urge President Tinubu to be a president with human face.
“Like always, we will stand by the people and their interests. Nigerian workers are hardworking and have remained consistent with productive work regardless of harsh government policies, poor governance and mismanagement of resources that have placed us under difficult living conditions”
