The House of Representatives has issued a call to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and affiliated labor unions to suspend their planned peaceful protest against the federal government’s fuel subsidy removal.
Hon. Akin Rotimi, the House’s spokesperson, has released a statement emphasizing the importance of continuing dialogue to protect the welfare of hardworking Nigerian workers and prevent their hardships from worsening.
Despite appeals made by the federal government and various interest groups to reconsider the industrial action, the NLC remains resolute in its decision to proceed with the peaceful protest scheduled for this Wednesday. The House urges them to prioritize dialogue and find common ground in the best interest of all stakeholders involved.
“As representatives of the people, the House of Representatives is fully aware and empathizes with Nigerians on account of the hardship being experienced as a result of the removal of fuel subsidies.
“We also acknowledge the rights of the NLC to carry out peaceful protests as a means of clamoring for relief for Nigerian workers as we go through these challenging times.
“Like most Nigerians, we know that building a progressive and prosperous nation requires hard and far-reaching decisions that must be taken in the collective interest of the people, and we see reason with the decision of the federal government to take the bull by the horn in the interest of long term economic growth and stability.
“The gap between the removal of fuel subsidy and the tangible outcomes of palliative measures must be shortened for the sake of poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
“Accordingly, we call on the leadership of the NLC and other labour unions in Nigeria to please divert their energies to join the House of Representatives in continuous engagement with the federal government, to achieve expedited implementation of the programs and push for additional immediate measures to provide succor for Nigerians,” the House spokesperson stated.
