A fundamental breach of an existing law by the 72 hours old President Bola Tinubu administration has been pointed out by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Mr. Joe Ajaero.
According to him in a viral video, just as he stepped out of a negotiation meeting with federal government officials, he pointed out that the 2023 Appropriation Law made provisions for the fuel subsidy to remain until June 30 and not before.
Recall that after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced it would sell fuel at its stations nationwide at between N488 and N555, other marketers followed suit, and its ripple effect is now reverberating in other sectors, especially the transport sector as cost have jumped by about 100%.
Watch video below:
The NLC President pointed out that the umbrella Labour union could not go ahead with negotiations because introducing new fuel prices was tantamount to putting a gun to the head of the Congress while talks were on.
Ajaero’s position appears right as even President Tinubu stated this position a two days ago in a tweet on his verified Twitter handle.
Stated Tinubu in an explanatory tweet on his verified Twitter handle @NgrPresGCFR, Tuesday afternoon:
“The public is advised to note that President Bola Tinubu’s declaration that “subsidy is gone” is neither a new development nor an action of his new administration.
“He was merely communicating the status quo, considering that the previous administration’s budget for fuel subsidy was planned and approved to last for only the first half of the year.
“Effectively, this means that by the end of June, the Federal Government will be without funds to continue the subsidy regime, translating to its termination.
“The panic-buying that has ensued as a result of the communication is needless; it will not take immediate effect.
“Furthermore, President Tinubu was clear about his plans to re-channel the funds previously devoted to the payment of subsidies into better investments that will cushion the effects of the removal on the general public, especially the poor of the poor.
“This includes but is not limited to investments in public infrastructure, education, healthcare and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions of Nigerians and increase their earning potential.”
