The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a two-day warning strike scheduled to commence on Tuesday, September 5, in protest against the removal of the petrol subsidy and its adverse effects on the general populace.
This strike action comes in response to President Bola Tinubu’s announcement on May 29 that the petrol subsidy regime was terminated. President Tinubu justified the decision by stating that the subsidy primarily benefited a few elites and that scrapping it would contribute to the country’s economic growth.
In the wake of this announcement, Nigeria experienced a significant increase in petrol pump prices, leading to a surge in transportation costs in certain areas and a rise in inflation across various market segments.
On August 2, the NLC, along with affiliated unions, organized nationwide protests against the subsidy removal and its detrimental impact on Nigerians. Prior to the protests, the labor unions had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government, demanding the reversal of all “anti-poor” and “insensitive” policies.
Subsequently, leaders of the labor unions held discussions with President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. However, President Tinubu remains resolute in his economic reforms, characterizing them as necessary measures.
The federal government has also initiated the distribution of palliatives to states in an attempt to alleviate the effects of the subsidy removal on Nigerians. Despite these efforts, the challenges of hardship and escalating inflation persist.
The two-day warning strike declared by the NLC underscores the ongoing tension surrounding the petrol subsidy removal and its consequences on the Nigerian populace.
