By correspondent in Lokoja.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has directed its members, nationwide, to withdraw their services from June 7, if the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNCPL) refuses to reverse the new price regime in the oil sector.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Shuaibu Usman Leman, National Secretary of the Union who is also Walin Shadalafiya on Saturday, and a copy made available to The Reporters.
Leman said: "An emergency Central Working Committee meeting of the Union was convened online today, Saturday, June 3, 2023, to discuss issues surrounding the decision by the Federal Government to remove Fuel Subsidy and the position taken by the Nigeria Labour Congress.
"After presentations by the National President, Chris Isiguzo, and the National Treasurer Bamidele Atunbi on the position taken by NLC on the matter, members unanimously adopted the position of NLC on the issue.
"CWC reiterates the argument that although the removal of fuel subsidy will free allocations which can be channeled to the provisions of infrastructure and creation of additional jobs, the sudden removal could however lead to social unrest and protests as people may perceive Government as being insensitive to their plight.
"CWC also notes that already there is an astronomical increase in the prices of petroleum products and high inflation which have drastically reduced the purchasing power of citizens.
"Accordingly CWC directs all State Councils of the Union to mobilize members to withdraw their services and commence protests nationwide from Wednesday next week, 7th June 2023, if the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNCPL) refuses to reverse the new price regime in the oil sector."
Contributing in another statement to the online publication, Lokoja-based public affairs commentator, Mr.Francis Fagorite, called on the federal government quickly in place, palliative measures to cushion the effect of the policy on Nigerians
."Nobody is saying that subsidy should not be removed but that you shouldn’t drop a child from a height without a soft, thick foam beneath to keep the child from catastrophic injury, even if the child is not yours," he further urged.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
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