- The Senate directed its leadership to meet with the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress to prevent a nationwide strike over the fuel subsidy removal
- Senator Sulaiman Kawu sponsored a motion urging the avoidance of the strike, highlighting its potential adverse impact on the nation’s economy
The Senate on Monday urged its leadership to hold talks with the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress to prevent the upcoming nationwide strike.
The NLC had set a deadline for the government to reverse the fuel subsidy removal, threatening a strike from August 2, 2023.
Senator Sulaiman Kawu sponsored the motion to avert the strike, emphasizing its potential devastating impact on the economy.
Senators Isah Jibrin, Seriake Dickson, and Solomon Adeola supported the motion, calling on the NLC to postpone the strike and allow the planned government palliatives to alleviate people’s suffering.
Isah Jibrin added that the motion is timely and necessary to avoid another strike.
Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East), said, “The motion is timely and every reasonable Nigerian would not want us to go on strike again.
“A strike usually has intended and unintended consequences both on the rich and the poor.
Appeal to labour unions to shelve the strike.”
Dickson also said, “We must commend the President for having the courage to remove the fuel subsidy.
“The economic situation as a result of the removal has brought untold hardship on the people.
“Therefore, the need for more palliatives other than the N500billion already unveiled by the Federal Government.“
Also, Senator Solomon pleaded with the NLC to give more time to the presidency as some pro-people policies like palliatives, and increased minimum wage were also in the pipeline.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio called on local government areas and state governments to work together to ameliorate the sufferings of the people. We cannot continue to use 98 per cent of our revenue to service fuel subsidy.
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