By Ayo Kehinde
The Nigeria Labour Congress has faulted the petrol subsidy removal pronouncement by President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration address on Monday, May 29.
President of the Congress, Joe Ajaero said on Tuesday that the Nigeria Labour Congress were outraged by the pronouncement of President Bola Tinubu removing ‘fuel subsidy without due consultations with critical stakeholders or without putting in place palliative measures to cushion the harsh effects of the ‘subsidy removal’.
According to him, the predictable outcome of the decision without the necessary preparation dashed hopes of the average Nigerian in the government because “within hours of his pronouncement, the nation went into a tailspin due to a combination of service shutdowns and product price hikes, in some places representing over 300 per cent price adjustment.
“By his insensitive decision, President Tinubu on his inauguration day brought tears and sorrow to millions of Nigerians instead of hope. He equally devalued the quality of their lives by over 300 per cent and counting.
“It is no heroism to commit against the people this level of cruelty at any time, let alone on an inauguration day. If he is expecting a medal for taking this decision, he would certainly be disappointed to receive curses for the people of Nigeria consider this decision not only a slight but a big betrayal.
The NLC president said the ripple effect on the lives of Nigerians who were looking to the new administration with great hope in policy departure from the dark days of the outgone president Muhammadu Buhari administration was enough for the Congress to ask for an immediate suspension of the policy.
“On our part, we are staunchly opposed to this decision and are demanding and immediate withdrawal of this policy, ” he said, adding, “The implications of this decision are grave for our security and well-being.
“We wonder if President Tinubu gave a thought to why his predecessors in office refused to implement this highly injurious policy decision.
“We also wonder if he also forgot the words he penned down on January 8, 2012, but issued on January 11, 2012.
“We have chosen to reproduce substantial parts of the statement for the benefit of those who did not have the opportunity of reading it then.
Ajaero recalled a similar stand by Tinubu and the opposition against the same fuel subsidy removal policy by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in January 2012.
He quoted extensively Tinubu’s 2012 statement, reproduced in part here: “As Nigerians gathered with family and friends to celebrate the New Year, the federal government was baking a national cake wrapped in the scheme that would instantly make the New Year a bitter one.
“Barely had the public weaned itself from last year when government dropped a historic surprise on an unsuspecting nation. PPPRA issued a statement abolishing the fuel subsidy. By this sly piece of paper, the federal government breached the social contract with the people.
“This government….has turned its back on the collective will. By bureaucratic fiat, government made the most fateful economic decision any administration has made since the inception of the Fourth Republic and it has done so with an arrogant wave of the hand as if issuing a minor regulation. Because of the terrible substance of the decision and the haughty style of its enactment, the people feel betrayed and angry.
“At this moment, we know not to where this anger will lead. In good conscience, we pray against violence. Also in good conscience, it is the duty of every citizen to peacefully demonstrate and record their opposition to this draconian measure that is swiftly crippling the economy more than it will ever cure it.
“By taking this step, the government has tossed the people into the depths of the midnight sea. Government demands the people swim to safety under their own power, claiming the attendant hardship will build character and add efficiency to the national economy. It is easy to make these claims when one is dry and onshore.
Ajaero then conclused that, “In the light of the foregoing, we urge Tinubu to respect his own postulations and economic theories instead of daring the people. It could be a costly gamble”.
The governments appears bent on going ahead with the policy before thinking out how to cushion its sudden negative impact on the populace.
Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday, said the Federal Government expected fierce opposition to the removal of fuel subsidy from its beneficiaries, insisting that the country must do away with subsidy.
Shettima spoke on Tuesday, to State House correspondents after resuming work at the Presidential Villa.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling fuel subsidy and multiple exchange rates.
He said, “The president has already made pronouncements yesterday on the issue of the fuel subsidy. The truth of the matter is that it is either we get rid of subsidy or the fuel subsidy gets rid of the Nigerian nation.
“In 2022, we spent $10 billion subsidising the ostentatious lifestyle of the upper class of society because you and I benefit 90 per cent from the oil subsidy.
“The poor 40 per cent of Nigerians benefit very little. And we know the consequences of unveiling a masquerade. We will get fierce opposition from those benefiting from the oil subsidy scam. But where there is a will, there is a way.
“Be rest assured that our president is a man of strong will and conviction. In the fullness of time, you will appreciate his noble intentions for the nation. The issue of fuel subsidy will be frontally addressed. The earlier we do so, the better.
“The issue of multiple exchange rates, we are going to collapse it into one. So these are two big elephants in the room and as the days go by we will be unveiling our agenda.
