The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning to those advocating for the removal of fuel subsidy.
The NLC urged those pushing for the removal of the subsidy to abandon the idea, and save the country from agitation from the masses.
The General Secretary of the NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja, made this known during an interview with journalists in Lagos.
Ugboaja emphasized that no one should drag the masses and Nigerian workers into any increase in fuel price in the guise of subsidy removal.
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He warned that the union would vehemently resist any attempt to increase the fuel price.
He stated that it would be selfish for any government in 2023 to discuss subsidy or no subsidy for a product that is natural and gifted in the country. Instead, government should focus on production.
He expressed his disappointment that in 2023, instead of getting people who would make proper use of Nigeria’s natural endowment, the country is busy discussing what subsidy can bring and what it cannot bring.
He said this is absurd and a vicious cycle that should stop at once.
NLC Secretary General called on Nigerians to wake up and stop allowing the elite to mislead them.
Ugboaja noted that the honest truth is that Nigerians need to focus on refining crude oil in Nigeria and making the product available for domestic consumption.
He insisted that anything outside of that shows the wickedness of the intellectuals in the country.
In conclusion, the NLC reiterated that there is no subsidy for anybody to be removed.
The only solution is to refine the crude oil in Nigeria and make it available for domestic consumption.
Anything outside of making our refineries work is wickedness, and the NLC will continue to resist any attempt to remove fuel subsidy.
UGBOAJA FULL WORDS
“If in 2023, rather than getting people that will make proper use of our natural endowment, we are busy discussing the cosmetic challenge of subsidy or no subsidy, then it is absurd.
“One would have thought that the people should be setting before the incoming government a genuine challenge on how to move Nigeria forward.
“Not for us to continue in the rigmarole of vicious, musical cheers and absurd comedy of subsidy or no subsidy. We cannot be people that do not respond to records.
“What we should be discussing is how to refine crude oil in Nigeria and make the product available for domestic consumption. Anything outside that shows the wickedness of the kind of intellectuals we have.
“We feel sick each time we see normal people come out on national television, giving theories on subsidy and how they can be ploughed into healthcare or education.
“Nothing is more dangerous than the way our elite try to hoodwink Nigerians.
“The honest truth is Nigerians need to wake up, we cannot continue in this vicious cycle of humiliation and slavery.
“There is no subsidy for anybody to be removed. The point that has to be made is that we must refine it. Anything outside making our refineries work is wickedness.”
