Fuel subsidy: Tinubu, Sultan urge NLC, TUC to shelve strike

By Iyojo Ameh

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar have urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to shelve their planned strike over the removal of fuel subsidy.

The organised labour had fixed Tuesday, October 3, for the commencement of an indefinite strike over fuel subsidy removal.

Speaking during the Public Lecture and Special Juma’at prayer to mark the 63rd Independence Anniversary of the country at the National Mosque, Abuja, he appealed to the workers not to embark on the strike.

Represented by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, the president reiterated the commitment of his administration to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.

” The Sultan has talked about the issue of strike by NLC. I also call on behalf of His Excellency, the President, and the entire government that the labour leaders should shelve the strike.

” Let’s dialogue, let’s sit together, let’s understand ourselves and let’s look at the prevailing situation in the country. How do we meet this country, the challenges ahead and the current challenges? It is through dialogue that we can be able to solve our problems collectively.

“This government is new and it is working hard to bring succor to the entire people of this country. It has set aside N500bn and other packages are being unveiled to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal. Therefore, we need to support and pray for the government, ” he was quoted in a statement by the spokesperson of the Deputy President of the Senate, Ismail Mudashir.

Earlier, the Sultan appealed to the organised labour to shelve the strike, saying they should give the federal government another chance.

” For God’s sake, for Allah’s sake, anybody planning to go on strike, should please give the government another chance. Please rethink and give the government another chance,” he said emphasizing the need for the labour leaders to embrace dialogue.

The Sultan, who said he has been involved in the negotiation of the labour leaders and government since 2007, said if the NLC and TUC embarked on the strike, it would do more harm than good.

On the 63rd Independence Anniversary of the country, the Sultan, who is also the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), said hope was not lost and urged all to have hope.

” Let us have hope, we must have hope, and let us not give up. We will get it right,” he said.