Tobias Sylvester
Former spokesperson of the Tinubu/Shettima campaign council, Bayo Onanuga has reacted to the planned strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
KanyiDaily recalls that the NLC president, Joe Ajaero had threatened that the union would embark on a nationwide strike from Wednesday, June 7, over the removal of fuel subsidy and hike in petrol prices across the country.
Reacting on his Twitter page, Bayo Onanuga urged Nigerian workers to disregard NLC directives, stressing that the Ajaero-led union is playing politics and acting the script of the opposition Labour Party to destabilize President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Onanuga pointed out that the leaders of NLC and TUC (Trade Union Congress) had been aware since November of the government’s plan to scrap subsidy starting from July 1, as it had not been allocated in the budget beyond that date.
He emphasized that the Federal Government, which already allocates 96 percent of its revenue to servicing debt, cannot continue selling subsidized fuel, much of which is smuggled across borders for illicit and unpatriotic profit.
Onanuga urged the Nigerian people and workers to support the government as it devises new wage policies and implements other measures, as promised by President Tinubu, to mitigate the impact of the new fuel prices.
The statement read in part, “NLC President Joe Ajaero has asked workers to go on strike next Wednesday over the removal of petrol subsidy, despite being privy to the distressing financial figures, which justified why subsidy ought to have been scrapped a long time ago.
“My advice to the perceptive workers and the Nigerian populace is simply to ignore Ajaero and his ilk. He is playing politics and is actually acting the script of the opposition Labour Party, out to destabilise the young Tinubu administration.
“Besides, one wonders whose interest Ajaero is championing, when he did not oppose the position of his Labour Party and presidential candidate, who campaigned with the promise to scrap subsidy from Day One, if elected.
“NLC and TUC leaders knew since last year November that subsidy will be scrapped from July 1 as no provision has been made in the budget for it, beyond this date.
“The Federal Government which already commits 96 percent of its revenue in servicing debt is not in any position to continue selling subsidised fuel, most of which is smuggled across our borders for criminal and obscenely unpatriotic profit.”
Onanuga further explained that fuel subsidy is no longer sustainable given the financial state of the government, which is burdened with a debt of N77 trillion and owes NNPC Limited about N2.4 trillion in past subsidies.
“The Nigerian people and workers should support the government as it works out new wages and rolls out other interventions, as promised by President Tinubu, to mitigate the effects of the new fuel price.
“Let’s not make ourselves pawns in the hands of the politically biased and tainted NLC and TUC. Ajaero is no more a labour leader. He is a politician and leader of the Labour Party. He is no more representing all the Nigerian workers,” he added.
KanyiDaily recalls that NNPC had increased its petrol prices across the country after President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy during his inauguration speech.
