Tinubu Meets with Labour Leaders Amidst Fuel Subsidy Removal Protests

Ilesanmi AdekanbiAugust 2, 2023

1 minute read

President Bola Tinubu met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, in Abuja.

The meeting came amid protests across the country by organized labour following the unbearable hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.

The NLC and TUC had threatened to go on a nationwide strike if the government did not reverse its decision to remove the fuel subsidy. The strike was scheduled to begin on Thursday, August 3, 2023.

In the meeting with Tinubu, the labour leaders presented their demands to the government. They called for the immediate reversal of the fuel subsidy removal, the payment of the minimum wage, and the creation of jobs.

Tinubu listened to the demands of the labour leaders and promised to take them to the Federal Executive Council (FEC). He said that the government would give a response to the demands within 24 hours.

The meeting between Tinubu and the Labour leaders was seen as a last-ditch effort to avert the nationwide strike. It remains to be seen whether the government will be able to meet the demands of the Labour leaders and prevent the strike from happening.

Recall that the labour unions have accused the government of being insensitive to the plight of the masses, who are already suffering from high inflation, unemployment, and insecurity. They have demanded that the government reverses the decision or face an indefinite nationwide shutdown.

The government, on the other hand, has defended the fuel subsidy removal as a necessary step to reform the oil sector and free up funds for infrastructure development and social welfare programmes.

The government has also promised to provide palliatives to cushion the impact of the policy on the poor and vulnerable segments of the society.

President Tinubu, who is widely regarded as a bridge-builder and a peacemaker, has expressed optimism that the meeting will yield positive results and restore normalcy in the country.

He has urged both parties to engage in dialogue and compromise in the interest of national unity and stability. He has also appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful while the government and the labour leaders work out a mutually acceptable agreement.