Subsidy Removal: Labour Party Rejects NLC Planned Protest

The Labour Party (LP) has rejected a planned nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in demonstration against the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.

The party also called for the immediate dismissal and prosecution of Melee Kyari, Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta on Thursday, Abayomi Arabambi, the National Publicity Secretary of the LP faction led by Lamidi Apapa, said the NLC can go ahead with a strike and ask workers to stay away from work until their demands are met.

He, however, said the directive of the Joe Ajaero-led NLC on the affiliates and state councils to mobilise ahead for a nationwide protest “is capable of setting Nigerians against the Tinubu administration for violent overthrow.”

“Our party noted that the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, without facts baselessly accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of showing enormous disdain and contempt for Nigerian people and workers by the declaration of war of attrition on Nigerian workers and masses without any care, leaving them in the throes of hopelessness and helplessness.

“Labour Party agreed with the NLC leadership only on all lawful demands but disagreed totally with a resolution calling for mass action.

“Calling on Nigerians wherever they may be to begin mobilization to take action on their own against a legitimate government, even to the extent of directing associations, individuals and other entities, including the ones already on the streets, to ensure that government listens to the people, is a treasonable felony offence.

“Workers can be called to embark on a strike by sitting at home until the government meets their demands,” he said.

Speaking on the call for removal and prosecution of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) Mele Kyari, Arabambi said, “Kyari’s leadership of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation and later Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited as a property of Nigerians failed to ensure that Nigerians are in the loop of the operations of the crude oil.

“The Lamidi Apapa-led executives of the party cannot ignore the pain presently suffered by Nigerians of all classes and therefore would want to have the president take decisive actions that would open up the national asset for a clearer assessment of the revenue and its possible impact on the people.

“This call by the Labour Party is critical to the yearnings of the Nigerian people and owners of the labour movement and the Labour Party.”