The Nigerian Labour Congress has said it is ready to fight the economic pains and hardship caused by the Federal Government’s decision.
The National Assistant Secretary, NLC, Chris Onyeka, said the Central Working Committee of the congress would hold an important meeting today and take a position.
He said all issues around the suffering of the masses because of the recent price hike in PMS price would be addressed at the meeting.
“We are going to give the Federal Government an ultimatum. We have given them enough leverage to take care of Nigerians and make amends, but they have refused to make amends. Let them prepare themselves because we are preparing. We are ready to fight back,” he said.
Also, the Chairman, ASUU, University of Lagos chapter, Prof. Kayode Adebayo, revealed that due to the fuel subsidy removal, living in Nigeria was now tough for lecturers as it was for every Nigerian.
He called on the government to galvanise the system and put smiles on the faces of the citizens.
Adebayo added, “All lecturers are paid peanuts; this was part of the reasons we fought against the government about the 2009 agreement. We tried to negotiate; no need to pretend, the situation is still the same. Just as it is tough for ordinary Nigerians, so it is tough for us too.
“Government is responsible for the security of the citizens. The citizen welfare has been compromised. The government needs to put a smile on the faces of Nigerians. Nigerian citizens are hardworking and understanding and that is why we say Nigerians are the most docile people in the world.
“The government needs to look at the plight of the citizens. We have what it takes to build a country that everybody will be proud of, not people who will finish (graduate) here and be looking abroad for greener pastures.”
In Benin City, Edo State, citizens took to the streets on Monday to protest the increasing hardships imposed by the fuel subsidy withdrawal which had led to sharp hikes in fuel pump prices as well as an increase in prices of goods and services.
The protesters displayed placards with inscriptions: ‘In less than two months, the Tinubu Government is choking Nigerians to death’; ‘Tinubu, let us breathe’; ‘Kill corruption, not Nigerians,’ and ‘Cost of living in Nigeria is choking us,’ among others.
Addressing journalists, the EDOCSO interim president, Austin Enabulele, said “We appreciate that the President has removed the subsidy because it became an avenue to steal from us. However, palliatives should have been put in place before the removal. The refineries should work, even if there are only two, so that we can buy fuel at an affordable price in Nigeria,” Enabulele said.
He questioned the rationale behind the N8,000 proposed palliative for 12 million Nigerians, which amounted to N996bn, while N70bn will be spent on 469 National Assembly members.
