DAILY POST
After a nationwide protest on Wednesday, the organised Labour has agreed to suspend further action on its opposition to fuel subsidy removal.
This was a fallout of a meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the representatives of the workers.
At the meeting were the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, President, Joe Ajaero and his Trade Union Congress, TUC, counterpart, Festus Osifo.
DAILY POST reports that the workers earlier in the day held protests across the country against the removal of fuel subsidy by the present administration.
The protests came after weeks of deadlocked negotiations between them and the government.
The NLC, TUC, and other affiliate unions have been demanding a reversal of the government’s decision.
They resorted to protests after a National Industrial Court barred them from proceeding with a nationwide strike which was to commence on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
Few hours after the protests were held across the country, the labour leaders were at the Aso Rock Presidential villa where they met with President Tinubu.
DAILY POST gathered that they felt satisfied with the promises made by the President and are now ready to stay further actions.
At the meeting, President Tinubu was said to have assured the workers that the Port-Harcourt refinery would certainly commence production by December this year.
Five major commitments were reported to have been made by the President during the meeting.
President Tinubu, according to a message credited to the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, also pledged to ensure that an agreement is reached on the Wage Award for Nigerian workers immediately.
“PBAT (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu) promised to unveil a workable roadmap to the CNG alternative next week.
“PBAT committed to an immediate restructuring of the framework for engagement in line with the input of the Labour leaders.
“We have decided for a return to a new and reinvigorated dialogue process to allow for full implementation,” the message posted on NLC platform indicated.
The labour leaders are expected to make a formal announcement on suspension of the protests on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the workers made bold statements across the country, accusing the Federal Government of being insensitive to the plight of citizens.
In Abuja, the nation’s capital, over 5000 protesters stormed the National Assembly.
They first converged at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, from where they marched to the Federal Ministry of Justice before proceeding to the National Assembly.
However, following the failure of the security officials to grant them access, the angry protesters pulled down the gates and thronged into the assembly complex to vent their anger.
In Kano State, the NLC said the Federal Government’s palliative measure to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy was deceptive.
The Kano chapter lamented that just two months into President Tinubu’s administration, he unleashed unpopular policies on the masses.
Kabiru Inuwa, Chairman of the NLC in Kano said the union was not a political party and would never play politics with the lives of Nigerians.
“Tinubu should let the masses breathe. Palliative he promised should be quickly shared,” he said.
The message was not different in Kogi where the organised Labour appealed to the Federal Government to reverse all policies that were working against the interest of Nigerians.
Kogi State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Gabriel Amari noted that the protest was as a result of the hardship being faced by Nigerians, adding that, if urgent measures were not put in place, it might lead to national chaos.
“Nigerians are passing through the worst moment in their lives. This is not the renewed hope President Tinubu promised us when we voted for him.
