The Nigeria Labour Congress has put on hold its nationwide protests slated for Thursday 27th January and February 2, 2022.
This decision was taken by the congress at its National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Tuesday.
The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, who broke the news at a press conference hinged the decision to suspend the protests on the reversal of the Federal Government’s plan to stop the subsidy on petrol.
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According to him, members of the NLC who had been mobilised would be demobilised following the decision to suspend the protests.
Earlier, the Congress had told newsmen on Monday that it would continue with the preparations for the protests.
The NLC president stated that the National Executive Council of the NLC had given directions for the mobilisation of workers and citizens for the national protests if the Federal Government refused to reverse the planned hike in the pump price of petrol.
But justifying its decision, the NLC president said the congress dropped the planned protests “following the reversal and reapproach by the government”.
He said, “At the peak of very rigorous mobilization of Nigerians by the Nigeria Labour Congress and a host of her civil society allies, the government through the Minister of Finance yesterday, January 24, 2022, made a public announcement reversing the plans to increase petrol pump price.
The position of the government was also officially communicated to Congress with calls for further engagement. Following the reversal and reapproach by the government, the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress met this morning virtually to consider the new position of the government.
“The NEC after vigorous debates decided to suspend the planned nationwide protest scheduled for January 27, 2022, and the national protest scheduled for February 2, 2022”.
Wabba said the congress has passed across the decision to its civil society allies who have stood behind Nigerian workers in their pursuit for social and economic justice.
The union argued that the attendant effect of the proposed removal of petrol subsidy would push the pump price of petrol to between ₦320 and ₦340 per litre.
While commending the workers, people and the civil society allies for “their unwavering solidarity and support during this struggle” the NLC said it would continue to engage with the government on the very critical issues of ensuring local refining of petroleum, creation of sustainable jobs and affordable price of petrol for Nigerian workers and people.
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