…TUC Meets, ASCSN Threatens Showdown
The Trade Union Congress will today (Thursday) take a position on the planned removal of the fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
The TUC Deputy Secretary, Nuhu Toro, said this in Abuja on Wednesday, that the congress would hold a meeting over the subsidy issue.
Toro disclosed this ahead of the National Executive Council’s meeting on Thursday.
NEC consisting of including all 36 governors, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other federal officials is expected to consider the adoption of a report by its ad hoc committee on fuel subsidy removal and the increase of petrol price to N302 per litre.
On its part, the TUC deputy secretary said the congress would hold a meeting over the subsidy issue.
He said, “We are having a meeting tomorrow (Thursday). The congress will disclose its decision after that meeting.”
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria has also opposed the plan by the Federal Government to remove the fuel subsidy and increase the pump price.
The ASCSN President, Tommy Okon, said his association and Nigerians would resist the move.
He said, “Of course, Nigerians are rest assured that they would be defended by our union; that’s why we are here and that’s why we are saying it is a wrong decision to take at this time when workers wages are still stagnant. No increase, they have not made any provision.
“The transport system has not been looked into. So, you just wake up and say you are removing fuel subsidy. Where in other climes has this been done? Even when you give the subsidy, is it not the wealthy few that still hijacked it? The fight is not about workers, it is what Nigerians must rise and resist.”
Okon stated that the union had already taken a position on the issue, insisting that “no sane government should at this point of economic harshness decide to impoverish the people.”
There have been fears of likely fuel price increase since the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, announced the plan to remove petrol subsidy last June.
An online news medium, The Cable, reported on Wednesday that a committee of the National Economic Council had recommended that petrol should be sold at N302 per litre from February when the government would cease to subsidise the petroleum products in the country
