TECHNOCRAT MEDIA, Abuja
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) says its planning to meet with organized labour unions on the best approach to address the planned removal of petrol subsidies.
The plan of the federal government to remove fuel subsidies has caused reactions among Nigerians, with the Nigeria Labour Congress having scheduled a plan to embark on a national strike if the proposed plan to implement removal of fuel subsidy is implemented.
Ms Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance had announced that fuel subsidy would be replaced with an N5000 monthly transport allowance for Nigerians in 2022.
Dr Kayode Fayemi, chairman of the governors’ forum on Thursday, said the governors of the 36 states met and discussed issues of national importance, including the proposed removal of petrol subsidy and the ongoing electoral amendment bill 2021.
“We discussed the issue around petroleum subsidy and concluded to engage the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress,” he said.
“We will engage them on how best to address this issue without causing any disaffection but with a view to salvaging the Nigerian economy for the Nigerian people at the end of the day.
“So, we shall be engaging the NLC as sub-national leaders and with a view to ensuring that the outcome of our engagement will also be fed into the national discourse.”
The governor said the decision of N302 per litre by NEC was not a decision of the governors but the exclusive responsibility of the federal government.
He further stated that though it was the responsibility of NEC, the governors were contributing to the debate.
He also commended the Senate for accelerating the removal of the contentious clauses in the electoral act amendment bill.
Dr Faymi said Nigerians are hopeful that the house of representatives would follow suit so that the revised bill could be returned to the president for assent on time.
This, according to the governor, will enable various institutions, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to proceed with its responsibilities towards elections in 2022 and 2023.
