In response to the sudden elimination of fuel subsidy by the Nigerian government, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has instructed its members to go on a nationwide strike. The NUEE has called upon its members to comply with the directive and halt their work starting from early Wednesday morning.
The decision comes after President Bola Tinubu declared the discontinuation of the petroleum subsidy regime, citing its lack of sustainability. Following this announcement, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) directed its outlets across the country to sell fuel at prices ranging from N480 to N570 per litre, a nearly 200 percent increase from the previous price below N200.
In reaction to these developments, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared its intention to organize a nationwide protest on the following Wednesday if the NNPCL refuses to revert to the previous price structure in the oil sector. The Nigerian Union of Journalists has also threatened to join the strike action on Wednesday.
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The NUEE’s decision was a result of an emergency meeting held by the Nigeria Labour Congress’ national executive council (NEC) on June 2 at the Labour House in Abuja. The meeting was convened to address the sudden removal of fuel subsidy, which the NLC claims has inflicted immense hardship on Nigerians and contributed to increased inflation in the economy.
Last year, Nigeria spent over N4 trillion on petrol subsidy, surpassing expenditures on healthcare and education. Many experts argue that such a practice is unsustainable. During the presidential election on February 25, the three leading candidates, Mr. Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi, pledged to eliminate the petrol subsidy if elected.
Opponents of the subsidy removal, including the NLC, assert that it will lead to higher prices of goods and services, further exacerbating the poverty of millions of citizens. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has also announced its intention to organize a nationwide protest on the following Wednesday if the NNPCL does not reverse the new price structure in the oil sector.
Source: Premium Times