Fuel Subsidy: Nigeria Electricity Workers, Journalists To Embark On Nationwide Strike

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) on Sunday directed its members to withdraw their services nationwide over the sudden removal of fuel subsidy by the Nigerian government.

 

The NUEE in a notice signed by its acting general secretary, Dominic Igwebike, urged its members to comply with the directive and stop work from the early hours of Wednesday.

 

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, in his inaugural address at Eagle Square, Abuja, declared that there would no longer be a petroleum subsidy regime as it was not sustainable.

 

Following the announcement, the NNPCL on Wednesday directed its outlets nationwide to sell fuel between N480 and N570 per litre, an almost 200 per cent increase from the initial price below N200.

 

In its reaction Friday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announced it would embark on a nationwide protest next Wednesday if the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) refuses to reverse the new price regime in the oil sector. The Nigerian Union of Journalists also threatened to join the strike action on Wednesday.

 

Reacting in a letter to its member on Sunday, the NUEE said its decision was a sequel to the NLC emergency national executive council (NEC) meeting held on 2 June at the Labour House Abuja over the sudden removal of fuel Subsidy, which it said brought untold hardship to Nigerians as well as increased inflation in the economy.

 

“To this effect, all National, State and Chapter executives are requested to start the mobilisation of our members in total compliance with this directive,” the statement said.

 

“Please note that withdrawal of Services nationwide commences from 0.00 hours of Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

 

“You are encouraged to work with the leadership of State Executive Councils (SEC) of the Congress in your various states with a view to having a successful action,” the letter said.

 

In the same development, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Saturday announced it would embark on a nationwide protest next Wednesday if NNPCL refuses to reverse the new price regime in the oil sector.

 

The NUJ National Secretary, Shuaibu Leman, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

 

Reacting in its statement on Saturday, the NUJ said an emergency central working committee meeting of the union was convened online to discuss issues surrounding the decision by the federal government to remove fuel subsidy and the position taken by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

 

It said after presentations by the National President, Chris Isiguzo, and the National Treasurer, Bamidele Atunbi, members unanimously adopted the position of NLC.

 

“CWC reiterates the argument that although the removal of fuel subsidy will free allocations which can be channelled to the provisions of infrastructure and creation of additional jobs, the sudden removal could, however, lead to social unrest and protests as people may perceive Government as being insensitive to their plight.

 

“CWC also notes that already there is an astronomical increase in the prices of petroleum products and high inflation, which have drastically reduced the purchasing power of citizens.

 

“Accordingly, CWC directs all State Councils of the Union to mobilise members to withdraw their services and commence protests nationwide from Wednesday next week, 7th June 2023, if the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNCPL) refuses to reverse the new price regime in the oil sector,” the statement said.

 

Subsidy

Nigeria spent over N4 trillion last year on petrol subsidy, more than it spent on healthcare and education, with many experts arguing that such was unsustainable.

 

This year, the immediate past government of Muhammadu Buhari only provided budgetary allocation for petrol subsidy until 30 June after saying it would leave the incoming administration to make a final decision on the matter.

 

However, the three leading presidential candidates in the 25 February presidential election (Mr Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi) promised to remove the petrol subsidy if elected.

 

Opponents of the removal, such as the NLC, however, argue that it would increase the prices of goods and services and further impoverish millions of citizens in a country.