By Charles Igwe
On Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reiterated its determination to proceed with the planned protest against the removal of petroleum subsidy. Despite fears of potential hijacking by hoodlums, the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, assured that workers’ protests have historically been peaceful. The responsibility for providing security during the protest was emphasized to rest with the security agencies.
A meeting of the Steering Committee on palliatives was held at the presidential villa in Abuja, where the issues surrounding inflation, gasoline prices, and government intervention were discussed. The meeting adjourned to allow the labour leaders to listen to the President’s national broadcast on the matter.
In response to President Bola Tinubu’s plan to control inflation and gasoline prices through the unification of the exchange rate, Ajaero expressed doubts about its feasibility. He raised concerns about the impact of import-driven energy and questioned how the government could control prices when faced with rising production costs and inflation.
The Chief of Staff to the President addressed the issues discussed during the closed-door meeting, emphasizing that they would wait for the President’s broadcast before proceeding with any further actions. He expressed confidence that the President’s interventions would address the concerns, and thus, there would be no need for further protests.
Regarding the removal of petrol subsidy, the Chief of Staff stated that the government is dealing with the oil cabals responsible for the economic challenges faced by the country.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, urged the organized labour to give the administration a chance to fix the economy, noting that President Tinubu inherited a challenging economic situation.
The meeting followed the walkout of organized labour during a previous meeting, citing a lack of top government officials for negotiation.
In attendance were representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and other members of the organized labour delegation, alongside government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and other key figures.
