Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has told the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) not to ridicule the fragile economy of Nigeria by embarking on the August 2, 2023, nationwide strike.
In a video accompanied by tweets, Kalu on Sunday urged the NLC to give President Bola Tinubu’s government more time to get things right.
Kalu reckoned that things are difficult for the rich and even more difficult for the poor and that the new government is trying to revive the economy.
“I sincerely appeal to the Nigerian Labour Congress( NLC) not to ridicule the economy with their proposed strike,” Kalu wrote on Twitter.
The chief whip of the 9th senate added “It is a difficult time for all Nigerians, both the rich and the poor. I am an employer of labour and I know that things are difficult. Even the President knows that things are difficult.
“I implore the NLC to give the new government some time. The government is working hard to revive the economy and the NLC should not further destroy the economy by going on strike. Let’s please exercise some patience with the new government,” Kalu said.
Tinubu declared the removal of fuel subsidy on May 29 sending fuel pump prices from N195 to over N600 in some parts of the country. The President promised to provide succour in the form of palliatives but has failed to act on his promises, forcing labour unions to embark on a strike.
Chronicle NG reports Nigeria secured $800 million from the World Bank as part of efforts to cushion the fuel subsidy removal. President Tinubu set up a Presidential Steering Committee which has three subcommittees, the Mass Transit, the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and the Cash Transfer but the labour unions believe that all these are tactics to deceive Nigerians.
