Nigeria Labour Congress, on Sunday, denied media report that it might suspend its proposed nationwide strike scheduled for Wednesday.
NLC, however, said the only condition under which it would back down on the planned industrial action is for the Federal Government and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited to reverse its new increased fuel price regime and return to status quo on fuel subsidy removal.
President Bola Tinubu had during his inaugural speech declared that the era of subsidy for petroleum products had gone, a decision that has continued to have ripple effect on the country since May 29, 2023.
Labour clarified its position in a statement by the Congress’ Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, on Sunday, in reaction to a media report.
It stated that the report was laughable and a desperate attempt by enemies of the people to polarise the NLC along ethnic or regional lines over a national issue.
The statement read, “This scenario only plays in their imagination as Nigeria Labour Congress continues to be the biggest pan-Nigerian organisation united by a common vision/ mission and shared national values.
“On the looming strike, we want to assure that all the affiliate unions of the Congress stand together with an unshakeable resolve to prosecute, come Wednesday, except the NNPC and Government do the needful.
“Whereas, primordial sentiments such as religion, region or ethnicity may be refuge for some, at the Nigeria Labour Congress, they have no place. What counts for us are issues such as the mindless and criminal increase in the pump price of PMS, whose burden will be borne by the already impoverished communities of the poor across Nigeria.”
NLC added that “the burden of the malevolent policy would not be borne by other segments of the country to the exclusion of the North or South-West, hence, there is no reason for those regions to back out of the strike.”