Sanwo-Olu Pleads With NLC To Abort Planned Strike Over Subsidy

Sanwo-Olu has pleaded with the NLC to abort its planned strike over subsidy.

Glamtush reports that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is pleading with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) not to embark on its planned strike.

This online newspaper understands that Sanwo-Olu, made the appeal on Sunday while speaking with newsmen shortly after a special “Thanksgiving Service” at the Cathedral Church of Christ in Marina, Lagos.

The Thanksgiving service marked the end of activities to mark the governor’s second term inauguration.

He was accompanied by his wife Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and wife Oluremi Hamzat.

Recall that the NLC had threatened to strike on Wednesday after the prices of petroleum went up in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s announcement that the fuel “subsidy is gone”.

However, Governor Sanwo-Olu has urged the labour union to abort the planned action, saying the NLC and the Federal Government should liaise to fashion out ways to cushion the impact of the removal.

“So, I want to plead with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that it should not turn it into a political thing because we are beginning to see that.  The leadership should indeed know that they are leading a pack of people and they need to restrain themselves,” he said on Sunday after a post-inauguration “Thanksgiving Service” at the Cathedral Church of Christ in Marina, Lagos.

“Let us be patient; let us work around [issues around subsidy removal]. NNPCL has said to us that there is more than enough petrol to go round. So, there is no need for us to heat up the polity. Any strike would not solve anything. It will certainly not be the issue. The point would be: ‘How are we going to ensure that there is a turnaround in our economy that we can live?’”

Sanwo-Olu said that the Nigerian leader is working out plans to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal just as Lagos State has started rolling out modalities for that.

“He [Tinubu] has mentioned something around better ways. We have started that in Lagos State. We pride ourselves that we have started it in January. Other parts of the country can also do the same. So, there is no need for us to get political. It is governance now and people want to see purposeful governance. Let the man [Tinubu] settle down. He has said he will form a team that would take the country out of poverty.”

“This is not the time to go on strike. Recall that all presidential candidates said the first thing they will do is remove fuel subsidy. So what has changed? What has President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said or done that is different from what others would have done?

“The president has not even spent one week in office. We need to be very patient and reason together. Let us not make the issue about politics, but let’s support this man. We should allow him to go and reflect.

“We should not get political because it is governance, and the people must see purposeful governance,” the governor stated.