Subsidy: Blackout Looms as Electricity Workers Join NLC Nationwide Strike | METROWATCH

Electricity workers under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have joined the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) planned nationwide strike for Wednesday against the fuel subsidy removal by the federal government.

The planned solidarity strike will see electricity employees nationwide withdraw their services by midnight on Wednesday.

With this latest move from the electricity workers, the nation will experience a partial or total nationwide blackout.

NUEE disclosed their solidarity strike with the NLC in a memo signed by its general secretary, Dominic Igwebike.

The memo reads: “Sequel to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on June 2. 2023 at the Labour house Abuja, over the sudden removal of fuel subsidy, which has brought untold hardship to Nigerians as well as increased inflation in the economy, the NLC has directed that the nationwide withdrawal of Services action will commence on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

“Please note that withdrawal of Services nationwide commences from 0.00 hours of Wednesday, June 7, 2023.”

METROWATCHXTRA.COM recalls that the NLC had written all its 43 affiliate unions to mobilise for the scheduled industrial action for Wednesday.

Some of the affiliates of the NLC include the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), among others.

In a letter written to the affiliates, which was signed by the NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, the Congress said: “We bring you greetings from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

“You will recall that arising from the National Executive Council meeting held on June 2, 2023, it was decided that Congress will embark on a nationwide action and withdrawal of services, against the fraudulent increase in the prices of fuel across the thirty-six states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the FCT.

“Please be informed that the nationwide action will commence on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. To this effect, all national leaders are expected to mobilise their members for the action and ensure full compliance with the directives as services in both the public and private sectors are expected to be fully withdrawn by Wednesday, June 7, 2023. All Presidents and General Secretaries are expected to help ensure the implementation of the decisions of the National Executive Council.”

Backstory
During his inaugural speech at the Eagle Square in Abuja, on May 29, the President, Bola Tinubu declared that the era of subsidy payment on fuel has ended.

Tinubu had also disclosed that the 2023 budget did not make provision for fuel subsidy as such, further payment is no longer justifiable.

“The fuel subsidy is gone,” Tinubu had declared, adding that his government would instead channel funds into infrastructure and other areas to strengthen the economy.

The presidential pronouncement led to an instant return of fuel queues across the country, with Nigerians lamenting the sharp increase in the price of petrol at the various filling stations.

This development led to the resistance of the organised labour to what the workers described as Tinubu’s unilateral action.