TUC said, “If by this, he means increases in pump price and the exploitation of the people by unregulated and exploitative deregulated prices, then it’s a joke taken too far.”
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday said the unilateral removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a joke taken too far.
Insisting that it was taken aback, even horrified, when Tinubu announced the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products in his inaugural speech, TUC said, “If by this, he means increases in pump price and the exploitation of the people by unregulated and exploitative deregulated prices, then it’s a joke taken too far.”
TUC, therefore, asked the new administration to tarry awhile on the subsidy matter.
The Labour movement said the President couldn’t unilaterally announce subsidy removal.
The TUC said this in a statement jointly signed by its President, Festus Osifo and General Secretary, Nuhu Toro on Tuesday in Abuja.
Tinubu, during his inaugural address, announced that the subsidy was gone
The pronouncement by Tinubu has led to chaos across the country, with queues returning to filling stations in major cities.
TUC, in its statement, urged the president to initiate robust dialogue and consultation and stakeholders’ engagement.
The statement reads: “The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC is delighted by the peaceful transition from the Buhari government to the Tinubu administration and across the 28 states of the federation. We congratulate Nigerians and the new administration at all levels even as we urge all those contesting the election results across the board to keep following the rule of law as provided in the constitutional and electoral act in seeking redress.
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“While listening to Tinubus’s inaugural Address, we were at first encouraged, by his pledge to lead as a servant of the people (and not as a ruler) and to always consult and dialogue, especially on key and knotty national issues. But we were subsequently taken aback, even horrified, when he announced the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products, if by this, he means increases in pump price and the exploitation of the people by unregulated and exploitative deregulated prices, then it’s a joke taken too far.
“It is not for nothing the Buhari government pushed this to the new administration, but we expect the Tinubu government to be wise on such a sensitive issue and be more explicit in its pronouncement to avoid contradictory interpretation when comparing his written statement, what he said and the provision in 2023 appropriation act. We dare say that this is a very delicate issue that touches on the lives, if not very survival, of particularly the working people, hence ought to have been treated with the utmost caution, and should have been preceded by robust dialogue and consultation with, the representatives of the working people, including professionals, market people, students and the poor masses.
“Accordingly, we hereby demand that President Tinubu should tarry awhile to give room for robust dialogue and consultation and stakeholders engagement, just as he opined in his speech until all issues and questions – and there are a host of them! – to ensure that they are amicably considered and resolved. Nigerian Workers and indeed masses must not be made to suffer the inefficiency of successive governments.”