The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Kwara state, have condemned the sudden removal of the fuel subsidy by the federal government that has shot up fuel prices by more than 100 percent.
The reaction of the two unions came just as youths in Ilorin, the state capital, took to the streets, protesting the fuel subsidy removal.
The NLC chairman in the State, Umar Faruq Akanbi, in a text message to LEADERSHIP said, “the removal caught us unawares because discussion is still ongoing”.
Akanbi who pointed out that government had claimed that no date had been fixed for the subsidy removal, said that the latest development, “indicates that government cannot be trusted”.
“It (government) can also not be trusted with judicious use of the proceeds, but to create fund for the ruling class’ ostentatious living”, he said.
The NLC boss added, “The removal of fuel subsidy is not in the interest of the masses, it is capable of spiral inflation, injurious to our purchasing power in a distorted minimum wage regime.
“It is ill-timed because of our security situation. We will join mass action by NLC, TUC and CSO”.
In its reaction, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in a statement signed by its Assistant Secretary, Albert Asonibare, described the removal of the fuel subsidy as “terrible, unfortunate, inappropriate and untimely.”