The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has issued a directive to all its members in various states of the country to take to the streets in protest against the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.
Contained in a press statement released on Tuesday night, by TUC President Festus Osifo and General Secretary Nuhu Toro, the executives declared the protest was necessary to express the union’s strong disapproval of the government’s decision.
“The congress is not averse to the removal of subsidy; we support the fact that it has to be removed but there must be measures in place to ameliorate its effect on Nigerians,” the statement said.
“Such measures include fixing of the refineries and possibly building more; functional transportation system; living wage, good medical facilities and employment.“
According to the statement, the protest will happen across states in the federation including the FCT.
“The policy was not thought through which is why its impact is excruciating on Nigerians,”
speaking further, the statement said,
“Therefore, all affiliates and state councils of Congress are hereby directed to mobilize their members for action by midnight of today, August 1, 2023.”
The Federal Government and the Nigerian National Labour Congress have been on a back and forth conversation since the introduction of the fuel subsidy removal on the 29th of May 2023.