The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is organising a nationwide rally to protest the federal government’s proposal to phase off fuel subsidy on January 27, 2022.
The labor movement announced this in a communique issued following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Friday.
A nationwide protest will be held in Abuja on February 1, 2022, according to a communiqué issued by NLC President Ayuba Wabba and Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja.
The NLC stated that if the government decides to announce increased petrol prices before the planned rallies, the protests would begin immediately in every state of the federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
Remember that in 2022, the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, announced intentions to give Nigerians a N5,000 stipend as a transportation allowance for at least six to twelve months.
The minister stated that the palliative is to relieve citizens from the effect of total fuel subsidy removal which may kick in by the second half of 2022.
Ahmed lamented that fuel subsidy is costing the country resources that should have been channelled to other sections of importance like education and health.
According to the NLC, it rejects and resists the planned removal of subsidy on petrol and the increase in the pump price of petrol by the Federal Government.
The union stated that the planned fuel subsidy removal is extremely insensitive to the sufferings being experienced by Nigerian workers and people.
It advised the federal government to promote local refining of petroleum products and address the cost of cooking gas and building materials.
The communique reads: “The NEC, therefore, resolved to reject and resist the planned increase in the pump price of petrol by the Federal Government, as it is extremely insensitive to the acute hardship being experienced by Nigerian workers and people.
“Pursuant to its rejection and resistance of further increase in the price of petrol, to organise protest rallies in all the 36 States of the Federation on Jan. 27, 2022.
“This would culminate in the submission of protest letters to all the 36 State Governors. Subsequently, a National Protest will take place on Feb. 1, 2022 in Abuja.
“In case the government decides to announce new petrol prices before the proposed protests, the protest will kick-off instantly and without any other further notice in every state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.”
Ada Peter
