[News] NLC calls for probe into fuel subsidy as it holds emergency executive meeting following fuel price hike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for a probe into the fuel subsidy program in Nigeria.

The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, made the call to journalists on Friday, June 2 shortly before the commencement of an emergency meeting of NLC National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja.

Ajaero criticised the ‘unilateral decision’ reached by President Bola Tinubu on the removal of fuel subsidy without consulting the Nigerian people.

He reiterated that the decision is not in the favour of the people while calling for a probe into the subsidy regime alleging huge corruption in the program.

After President Tinubu had announced the end of subsidy upon his assumption of office in May 29, in less than 24 hours petroleum marketers shut down their filling stations and adjusted their pump price.

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company limited, also announced a new template of pricing that saw the pump price of Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS, jumped up to N557.

Ajaero on Friday, said the NEC meeting was called to interrogate the ‘illegal announcement’ of over N500 pump price by the NNPCL and that the NEC will give directive on the next action after the meeting.

He said that the organized labour has asked the government to withdraw the figure, contending that about 50 per cent of the states have not been paying the N30,000 minimum wage.