NLC Mobilises ASUU, NUT, ASUP, Others For Strike Over Fuel Price Hike

Patrick OdeyJune 3, 2023

2 minutes read

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has written to all its 43 affiliate unions to mobilise for a nationwide industrial action slated to begin on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

The NLC, which is the umbrella organisation for trade unions in Nigeria, said the strike was in protest of the fraudulent increase in the prices of fuel across the country.

The strike follows the announcement by President Bola Tinubu on Monday that the era of subsidy payment on fuel had ended.

The NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, in a letter to the affiliates, said all national leaderships were expected to mobilise their members for the action and ensure full compliance with the directives as services in both the public and private sector were expected to be fully withdrawn by Wednesday.

Some of the affiliates of the NLC include – the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives among others.

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“We bring you greetings from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress. You will recall that arising from the National Executive Council meeting held on 2nd June 2023, it was decided that Congress will embark on a nationwide action and withdrawal of services, against the fraudulent increase in the prices of fuel across the thirty-six states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the FCT.

“Please be informed that the nationwide action will commence on Wednesday, 7th June, 2023.

“To this effect, all National Leadership are expected to mobilise their members for the action and ensure full compliance with the directives as services in both the public and private sector are expected to be fully withdrawn by Wednesday, 7th June, 2023. All Presidents and General Secretaries are expected to help ensure the implementation of the decisions of the National Executive Council,” the NLC stated.

The presidential pronouncement had led to an instant resurgence of fuel queues across the country, with Nigerians lamenting the sharp increase in the price of petrol at the various filling stations.

Although Tinubu’s decision received backing from the NNPC and the House of Representatives, it has since been resisted by the NLC and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.

The organised labour has insisted that the President cannot unilaterally take a decision on subsidy removal without consulting with them.