The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has begun mass mobilisation of civil society organisations (CSOs) ahead of its planned January 27 and February 1 nationwide protests against the proposed removal of petrol subsidy by the Federal Government.
It was gathered that meetings between the congress and leaders of the CSOs were expected to hold, on Tuesday, in Abuja and Friday in Lagos.
The meetings, according to a letter by NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja, would be attended by members of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the congress and the affiliate unions’ leadership.
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The letter by Comrade Wabba reads: “Comrade, you may recall that at the regular meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress, which took place on 17th December 2021 at the Oyerinde Olaitan Auditorium, Pascal Bafyau Labour House, the NEC decided, among other things, to mobilise Nigerian workers and people for a nationwide protest on the 27th of January 2022, particularly in all the state capitals of the federation.
“There will also be a national protest on the 1st of February 2022, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The planned protest is to register the displeasure and rejection by Nigerian workers and people of the proposed plans by the government to increase the price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also commonly referred to as ‘petrol’.
“Currently, it is being speculated that the planned price hike would see a litre of petrol selling between N340 and N360.
“Clearly, this price upsurge would unleash very severe and calamitous dislocation on Nigerian workers, people, and businesses.
“In order to plan for an effective and peaceful protest, we seek the indulgence of your union as a member of the NLC Central Working Committee to be part of a planning meeting with leaders of CSOs scheduled to take place in both Abuja and Lagos states.
“While we look forward to your attendance, please accept the renewed assurances of our highest esteem.”
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President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Quadri Olaleye, said the National Administrative Council (CWC) and National Executive Council of the NLC would, thereafter, meet for three days from January 20 to fine-tune the strategies for the protests.
Olaleye’s words, “The TUC will make its decision known on 22 of January. We are having our organs’ meeting from the 20th, 21th and 22nd. It is after that meeting that we will decide on what to do.
“The planned subsidy removal is a major issue that we will discuss. We have other issues like the failure of the government to implement the electricity tariff reduction agreement. We will look into it at the meeting. I don’t want to preempt the meeting.”
