The Senate is seeking to prevent a nationwide strike scheduled by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the removal of a fuel subsidy.
The NLC plans to commence the industrial action on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, if the government does not reconsider its decision.
Senator Sulaiman Kawu, who sponsored the motion titled “Urgent need to avert an impending nationwide strike”, warned that the strike could severely impact the nation’s economy.
Several Senators, including Isah Jibrin, Seriake Dickson, and Solomon Adeola, encouraged the NLC to delay the proposed strike.
They expressed hope that the Federal Government’s planned relief measures would help ease the people’s suffering.
Jibrin said, “A strike usually has intended and unintended consequences both on the rich and the poor.”
Dickson commended the President’s bravery in removing the fuel subsidy, acknowledging the economic hardship this decision brought upon the people.
He highlighted the need for additional palliatives beyond the N500 billion already announced by the Federal Government.
Senator Solomon appealed to the NLC to give the presidency more time as policies such as palliatives and increased minimum wages were in the pipeline.
In closing, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged local and state governments to collaborate to alleviate the people’s hardship, stating, “We cannot continue to use 98 per cent of our revenue to service fuel subsidy.”
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