The abrupt elimination of fuel subsidies by the Nigerian government has prompted the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) to advise its members to stop working across the country.
The NUEE requested its members to comply with the decision and begin the work stoppage on Wednesday morning in a notice signed by the acting general secretary, Dominic Igwebike.
President Bola Tinubu declared the end of the petroleum subsidy scheme in his inauguration address on Monday, calling it unsustainable.
In reaction to this declaration, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) authorized its outlets to sell fuel at a much higher price range of N480 to N570 per litre, an almost 200 percent increase from the initial price of less than N200.
On Friday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announced plans to hold a countrywide demonstration the following Wednesday if the NNPCL refused to return to the prior price regime in the oil sector. The Nigerian Union of Journalists has also threatened to join the strike.
The NUEE explained in a letter to its members on Sunday that its decision was a result of the NLC emergency national executive council (NEC) meeting on June 2 at the Labour House in Abuja to address the abrupt removal of fuel subsidies, which was causing significant hardships for Nigerians and contributing to increased inflation in the economy.
The announcement urged all national, state, and chapter executives to mobilize their members in full compliance with the command, with nationwide service withdrawal beginning at 00.00 hours on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
“To that end, all National, State, and Chapter executives are hereby directed to begin mobilizing our members in full compliance with this directive,” the statement added.
“Please be advised that the withdrawal of Services nationwide will begin at 0.00 hours on Wednesday, June 7, 2023,” the message says in part.
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