Mohammed Shosanya
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria,TUC,Tuesday cautioned President Bola Tinubu on the removal of fuel subsidy in the country.
The union in a statement signed by its President,Festus Osifo,and Secretary-General,Nuhu Toro,said Tinubu’s Presidential pronouncement on the removal of fuel subsidy,which translates to increase in the price of fuel,is a joke taken too far by the new administration.
The union maintained that fuel subsidy removal is a delicate issue and requires certain level of consultation and restraint on the part of the government on account of the impact it would have on the well-being of Nigerians.
The statement added:”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 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 mases must not be made to suffer the inefficiency of successive governments”
Declaring its readiness to dialogue with the current administration on the fuel subsidy issue,the union implored the government not to dictate on such a matter or engage in manipulating the outcome of such consultations.
It also expressed disgust over President Tinubu’s failure to delve into or reveal his plans on how to tackle and address the issue of poor and unchecked deterioration in industrial relations, particularly in the education, health and judiciary sectors, often resulting in prolonged strike and Industrial actions and their attendant adverse effects on society and the economy.
It expressed support for the new government’s declaration that it will defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten peace and stability.
It advocated the need for a more robust method of defending the country by involving the mass of the people, and empowering them to defend themselves when attacked by bandits and terrorists.
It expressed pleasure over new government’s promise to engage in job creation, food security and end extreme poverty.
The union said:” In this, we urge it to involve organized labour, employers of labour, professional organisations and the informal sector. This is necessary so that these programmes would not become mere propaganda in which unverifiable statistics would be churned out periodically.
“Congress welcomes the promise to make electricity accessible and affordable to businesses and homes and, suggests that the Tinubu government begins by stopping the periodic arbitrary increases in price of electricity imposed by the distribution companies while regulatory and consumer agencies look away.
“This new administration cannot be seen to be speaking from both sides of its mouth, we urge President Tinubu to be a president with human face.Like always, we will stand by the people and their interests. Nigerian workers are hardworking and have remained consistent with productive work regardless of harsh government policies, poor governance and mismanagement of resources that have placed us under difficult living conditions”
