A Civil Society Organisation under the aegis of Civil Society and Workers Dialogue Forum (CSWDF) has kicked against the planned strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) scheduled to commence on Tuesday, 3rd October, 2023.
The CSOs described the action as ‘sabotage’ and ‘mischievous’ saying that the union was not sensitive to its own part of a dialogue with the Federal Government over the fuel subsidy removal impasse.
The group stated this in a statement issued on Thursday by Abubakar Ibrahim, Bashir Faisal and Comrade Rafiu Shaibu, convener and co-convener respectively.
The CSO said, the Nigeria Labour Congress fully agreed to the withdrawal of fuel subsidy which they also earlier advocated for, adding that “having the subsidy that has been draining government for centuries removed, it should be supported by all stakeholders”, rather than ‘evil kick’ as it were.
The group, while acknowledging the hardship faced by Nigerians, explained that the Federal Government has made deft moves in rehabilitating the refineries to reduce the cost of PMS and gas importation.
The statement added that the recent distribution of palliative to the tune of N5 billion to each 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory are part of mitigation measures until things normalise as no government anywhere in the world derives pleasure in the suffering of its people.
The wage increase of workers is being negotiated with NLC constituting the membership of the committee, we are appalled at what the proposed strike intended to achieve.
The group wondered what the proposed strike intended to achieve since the wage increase of workers is being negotiated with NLC constituting the membership of the committee.
