Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria have cautioned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against plunging Nigeria into chaos and compound the hardship the citizens are going through with its planned nationwide industrial action.
This came barely 24 hours after organized labour issued the federal government one week ultimatum to reverse removal of fuel subsidy and other anti-people policies.
The CSOs under the aegis of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations and Political Parties for Good Governance (COSOSAP) noted that fuel subsidy regime, which had been the source of monumental corruption and a clog in the wheels of the nation’s progress in the last 45 years, can no longer be sustained as it.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, national coordinator of COSOSAP, Dr Lillian Ene Ogbole, implored the labour unions and others opposed to the policy to exercise a little more patience and support the government to create the enabling environment that will improve the living standard of the larger majority of Nigerians.
Ogmore noted that no matter the perspective the situation is perceived from, Nigerians must be guided by the overriding national interest which is the continuous survival of our citizens under one indivisible entity.
She said, “It is true that Nigerians desire and deserve to buy petrol at a cheaper rate, but again it is equally true that neither our economy, nor any other economy in the world can bear the brunt of the mega corruption associated with the fuel subsidy regime as was obtainable in Nigeria.”
“It suffices therefore to say that, the only way our dear nation Nigeria would not go the way of failed states like Venezuela and Sri Lanka etc., is to obliterate the fuel subsidy regime.
“This accounted for why the last administration ended the fuel subsidy regime in the twilight of its tenure as evident in their refusal to make appropriation for fuel subsidy for the month of June 2023 and even subsequent months.”
The CSOs acknowledged that the fuel subsidy removal has brought untold hardship on Nigerians, expressing optimism however that Nigerians would surely have a sigh of relief going by the measures being put in place by the President Tinubu led administration in no distant time from now.
The national coordinator continued: “We use this medium to appeal for patience and understanding from all Nigerians as the historic and courageous struggle to bring to everlasting end the retrogressive and corrupt subsidy regime to pave way for robust and competitive open market operations and competitions vis a vis as in the telecommunication industry.
“Patience, not pressure, encouragement, and not rage, should be our attitude towards the government of the day.
“We are a people with common goals and objectives. Let us support this administration so that we can survive the current challenges of the transition from a regulated fuel subsidy-based economy, to a fuel subsidy free economy.”
The CSOs also commended the president on the declaration of state of emergency on food security in the country.
They stated further: “On this note, we welcome and commend the declaration of the State of Emergency on Food Security by the President. We expect his action to encourage a massive reduction and stability in the prices of food stuffs in the country.
“We call on all major stakeholders in the petroleum sector to play by the rules to ensure that the effort to set the Nigerian economy on the path of growth and development is not frustrated and truncated.
“We use this avenue to call on government regulatory agencies to expose and sanction any company that may indulge in the importation of substandard petroleum products into the country without hesitation.
“It is worthy of note therefore to mention emphatically that Nigeria Labour Congress cannot roll in the path of any form of industrial action either by way of protest or nationwide strike as this will further escalate more crisis and problem than what is presently obtainable.
“It is no news that the world at large is going through severe Post-Covid hardship; this has damaged several economies around the globe today. This information is available for free on various global communication platforms.
“It will begin to send malicious signals both locally and internationally if what is rated as global crisis is being contained and handled by the umpire labour body in a way and manner that throws the country into uncontrollable uproar. The menace of difficult times and hardship can only be overcome through reasoning together and working in synergy to achieve prosperity and progress.”
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
