The Trade Union Congress has threatened to embarked on strike if the Federal Government fails to fulfil some conditions it earlier presented before stopping the policy.
This is coming based on the decision of the Federal Government to remove the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol with effect from June.
In a communiqué issued and read by the TUC President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye, after the National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the union had said the government must revitalize the refineries, establish new ones, including modular refineries, ensure effective policing of the nation’s borders to stem the smuggling of petroleum products, among other things.
He said the proposal by the National Economic Council on subsidy removal should take into consideration the attendant economic impact on the masses.
Quadri added that, the Trade Union Congress has directed its state councils and affiliates to commence mobilisation for industrial actions against subsidy removal.
Reading the communiqué issued after the meeting, the TUC President, Quadri Olaleye, said the proposal by the National Economic Council on subsidy removal should take into consideration the attendant economic impact on the masses.
According to him, there must be assurances that refineries would be fully overhauled and establishment of modular refineries encouraged.
He stated, “NEC-in-Session enjoined Congress members nationwide to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and ensure active participation in the democratic process ahead of 2023 general elections.
“Members are also urged to support the Political Commission of the Congress in creating groundswell awareness for providing leadership alternatives that deliver on democratic dividends and transformative governance to the people” he added.
“NEC-in-Session insists that Federal Government must ensure that the conditions precedent put forward by the TUC on the deregulation of the downstream such as the revitalization of existing refineries, establishment of new ones including modular refineries, effective policing of borders to stem the rate of petroleum products smuggling, etc are implemented
“Finally, NEC-in-Session has mandated the Congress led by the President to take all necessary steps to ensure that these conditions are met before subsidy is removed. Consequently, NEC-in-Session directs state councils and affiliates to commence mobilisation of members for industrial actions against subsidy removal without government fulfilling conditions precedent’.’
He however acknowledged the giant stride recorded in rice production by the present administration through various interventions, but admonished the government to ensure that the price of rice becomes affordable to Nigerians in order to justify the rice revolution policy of the administration.
“The development of the agricultural value chain can create mass employment and put the country on the path of economic recovery and prosperity,’’ it noted.
