The organized labour on Monday insisted that there is no going back on its planned strike protest over the removal of petrol subsidy by the federal government and the hardship it has brought on citizens of the country.
The unions, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), spoke after a meeting with government representatives at the presidential villa.
According to the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, they were not convinced about the commitment and ability of the government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu to effectively control inflation and petrol price due to the unification of the exchange rate.
Ajaero insisted that the Wednesday, August 2 protest remained on course.
The NLC president insisted that hoodlums would not hijack the protest as the fear of those insinuating such a scenario was unfounded.
He, however, called on the security operatives to be on top of their game, not only to forestall such occurrences, but also to protect the demonstrators.
Ajaero further expressed worries about the reported plans by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to increase electricity tariff increases, as well as the significant increase in the price of corn in rural areas.
The participants in Monday’s meeting were labour leaders from both the NLC and the TUC as well as the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari among others on the government side.
