Member representing Ikwo/Ezza South federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Chinedu Ogah, has appealed the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to shelve its planned nationwide strike and engage the federal government in fruitful dialogue.
The lawmaker who made the appeal during an interaction with journalists in Abakaliki called on the union to use dialogue in its agitation on the removal of the fuel subsidy by the federal government.
He said the strike would have multiplier effects on Nigerians adding that dialogue has benefitted unions who explored it to agitate for their rights.
“The president has a listening ear and his chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila oversaw negotiations with the NLC when he was the speaker of the House of Representatives,’’ he noted.
Ogah urged Nigerians to be patient with the present administration and commended President Tinubu for being courageous enough to remove the subsidy.
“We must commend the president for the removal of the subsidy. We have witnessed instances in the country where only 10 vessels with fuel will be quoted but at the end of the day, only 5 will be seen and the proceeds of the other five will go into private pockets,’’ he said.
He said he was part of the members of the National Assembly who investigated the subsidy issue and recommended for its removal.
“The benefits of the subsidy removal are already being seen. Nigeria’s foreign reserves have increased very well,” he claimed.
He said enough funds have been allocated to the three tiers of government and urged Nigerians to support the local government autonomy and its implementation to enable the rural communities feel the positive impact of the allocation.
“The president is already channeling the savings from the subsidy removal to appropriate sectors of the nation such as health, education and infrastructure.
“The Port Harcourt refinery is already being rehabilitated and when I went there, I saw work going on without ceasing,” he said.
The lawmaker said the subsidy has also made most Nigerians to spend wisely and stop extravagant lifestyles.
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