The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), a national trade union federation representing senior staff, has urged the federal government to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Labour movement and other stakeholders on the issue of fuel subsidy removal.
The TUC said it was open and ready to dialogue with the administration of President Bola Tinubu, who assumed office on Monday, but warned that the government should not impose its decision or manipulate the outcome of such consultations.
In a statement signed by its President, Festus Osifo, and Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, on Tuesday in Lagos, the TUC said the fuel subsidy issue was a very delicate one that affected the lives and survival of the working people and the masses.
The union was reacting to Tinubu’s inaugural speech, where he declared that the fuel subsidy was no longer sustainable and had been scrapped.
The TUC said: “We believe that this is a matter that requires utmost caution and sensitivity.
“It should have been preceded by robust dialogue and consultation with representatives of the working people, including professionals, market people, students and the poor masses.”
“Accordingly, we hereby demand that President Tinubu should pause and give room for robust dialogue, consultation and stakeholders engagement, just as he opined in his speech, until all issues and questions – and there is a host of them – are amicably considered and resolved.”
“Nigerian workers and indeed masses must not be made to bear the brunt of the inefficiency of successive governments.”