Subsidy Saga: APC Stalwart Faults NLC Approach

A stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Kikelomo Ikuomola, has berated the national leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for failing to initially consider the option of dialogue with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the removal of the fuel subsidy before insisting on the suspended strike

Ikuomola, who spoke with LEADERSHIP in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital declared that NLC’s earlier insistence on sthe trike  with sheer disrespect to the presidency’s invitation for a dialogue indicated that leadership of the labour movement had lost focus in its avowed mission of championing the collective welfare of workers in the country.

The APC chieftain said the NLC under its national president, Comrade Joe Ajaero seemed to have lost focus as an organised pressure group by its stance against the removal of the fuel subsidy which had  earned international accolades.

Ikuomola who demanded for the immediate resignation of  Ajaero noted that the  revered labour movement in Nigeria was  slipping into irrelevance by its stance against the removal of fuel subsidy.

She also berated the NLC national leadership for absenting itself from peace negotiations initiated by the present administration which would have afforded all parties the opportunity to dialogue on how to mitigate the effects and the removal of the fuel subsidy.

“The Tinubu-led administration brings fresh perspectives and approaches, and the NLC has the opportunity to collaborate with the government by offering their ideas, insights, focus and policy direction, to collectively move the country forward.

‘’This and more, should be done by engaging in meaningful discussions and cooperation, in genuine synergy, both parties can work towards the betterment of Nigerians, ” she said.

Ikuomola urged the nation’s labour movements to desist from activities that are capable of painting the union in a bad light as losing its relevance for the collective welfare of the Nigerian workers.

She however called on both the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to always bear in mind that working together for a better Nigeria should be the focus of each and every one of citizens “from urban to rural center”.