NLC Meets Jonathan Over Subsidy Removal

The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja to further discuss on the controversial removal of petroleum subsidy.

Though details of the meeting were sketchy as at press time, the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Owei Lakemfa, told our correspondent that the position of Labour on subsidy removal remained sacrosanct.

He said,?? ‘Our position on fuel subsidy is clear, we have given them conditions, if religiously followed, it will save the system , but the government cannot implement what will not benefit the people? at this given time when the country cannot refine for her local consumption’.?
The Federal Government had cautioned the NLC against over-heating the system with their planned mass demonstration over the non-provision of fuel subsidy in the 2012 budget.

Meanwhile, the NLC haswarned Jonathan over what it called “his unpatriotic policies,” and stated that “Nigerian masses will resist them.”

NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, stated this yesterday while reacting to the attack on Lekki residents, following their opposition to the introduction of toll gates on the Lekki-Epe Express way.

The NLC boss also called on the President to urgently bring to book the policemen used against the innocent and unarmed residents.

He further urged lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to suspend toll collection on the Lekki-Epe express way.

Omar said the failure of President Jonathan to bring the culprits to book, “Will send a wrong message to the populace that the use of naked force against Lekki residents is a mere dress rehearsal, as his administration was set to descend on the Nigerian populace who are bound to resist the unpatriotic removal of oil subsidy.”