Tinubu, Sultan beg Nigeria Labour Congress to shelve strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have been urged to call off their planned strike in response to the removal of fuel subsidies by President Bola Tinubu and Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar.

According to Saturday’s PUNCH, organised labour has set Tuesday, October 3 as the start date for a permanent strike over the removal of fuel subsidy.

Workers were urged not to go on strike by Tinubu, who spoke at the National Mosque in Abuja’s public lecture and special Juma’at prayer commemorating the 63rd independence anniversary of the country.

The President, through Senator Jibrin Barau, the Senate’s Deputy President, reaffirmed the government’s intention to mitigate the fallout from the elimination of fuel subsidies.

Ismail Mudashir, media aide to the Deputy Senate President, released a statement in which he said, “The Sultan has talked about the issue of strike by the NLC. In addition, I extend a plea to the strike’s organisers on behalf of the President and the entire government.

Let’s talk, let’s sit down, let’s get to know each other, and let’s assess the state of the country as a whole. How do we rise to this nation’s occasion, both now and in the future? By talking things out, we can find solutions that work for everyone.

While reassuring the public that the new administration was working hard to alleviate their suffering, he added, “It has set aside N500bn and other packages are being unveiled to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal.” Therefore, we must back the government in prayer.

The Sultan had earlier pleaded with union leaders to give the federal government another chance.

He pleaded with those contemplating a strike, “For God’s sake, for Allah’s sake, please give the government another chance. The government deserves another chance; please reconsider.

The Sultan, who claimed to have been involved in the bargaining between the labour leaders and the government since 2007, stated that the strike would cause more harm than good if the NLC and TUC went ahead with it.