Fuel Subsidy Removal: Federal Government Warns NLC Against Planned Industrial Strike

The Nigerian Government has issued a warning to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) against embarking on strike over the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The government issued the warning on Wednesday through a statement by the Federal Ministry of Justice, saying any industrial action embarked upon by the union with respect to the removal of fuel subsidy would amount to contempt of court.

“It is, therefore, our minimum expectation that NLC will allow the courts perform their constitutional roles rather than resorting to self-help and undermining the orders of the court.

The statement signed by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice Permanent, Beatrice Jedy-Agba.

The NLC, on Wednesday, issued a notice to begin a nationwide strike on 2 August to protest the removal of fuel subsidy amid an astronomical hike in the pump price of petrol resulting from the policy announced by President Bola Tinubu at his inauguration on 29 May.

Both the TUC and the NLC had declared a strike in the wake of the announcement of the major policy shift but later dropped the plan at the last minute after a marathon of meetings with the federal government.

While negotiations with the Labour leaders were ongoing, the federal government approached the National Industrial Court in Abuja and, on 5 June, obtained a court order to stop the strike.

The Labour leaders dropped the strike plan in succumbing to the court order and the promise by the government to implement a number of palliative measures.