Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has appealed to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) not to proceed with their planned strike in response to the removal of fuel subsidy, as announced by President Bola Tinubu during his inaugural speech.
Following the NLC’s five-day ultimatum to the federal government to revert to the previous petrol price or face a nationwide protest, Sanwo-Olu addressed reporters on June 4 after a post-inauguration church thanksgiving service.
He urged labor leaders to collaborate with the present administration in its efforts to revive the country’s economy.
Expressing gratitude for President Tinubu’s Lagos roots, Sanwo-Olu stated his belief that Tinubu would replicate the positive changes implemented in Lagos throughout Nigeria.
He then appealed to citizens and the NLC, questioning the need for a strike since the removal of fuel subsidy was a commonly discussed topic among presidential candidates during the campaign period.
Sanwo-Olu emphasized the importance of patience, highlighting that President Tinubu had only been in office for less than a week.
He urged everyone not to politicize the matter and instead support the president by giving him time to reflect. Sanwo-Olu assured that at the sub-national level, they were willing to offer their support.
The governor stressed that an industrial strike would not resolve the underlying issues or bring a resolution to the problem at hand. Instead, he called for a focus on finding solutions to ensure an economic turnaround.
Sanwo-Olu cited the example of Lagos, where they had already initiated efforts to improve wages since January, suggesting that other parts of the country could do the same without waiting for the national government.
Sanwo-Olu made a plea to the Nigeria Labour Congress, urging them to avoid turning the situation into a political matter. He reminded the NLC leadership of their responsibility to guide and unite their members, emphasizing the need for restraint.
Sanwo-Olu encouraged patience and a collaborative approach to finding a resolution, noting that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had assured that there was an adequate supply of petrol
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