From Nabob Ogbonna
The member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency from Ebonyi State, Comrade Chinedu Ogah has urged the national leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to drop the idea of embarking on a nationwide strike over the removal of petroleum subsidy.
He insisted that dialogue with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the best option.
Ogah who opposed the idea of re-introducing mass bus transit to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal, said reincorporating a railway system to reach every state of the federation including the capital territory, Abuja and the nation's refineries to commence full production, remains the best choice.
He also advocated for rehabilitation, equipping, and staffing of health facilities and citizens to have access to free medical treatment including those in the rural areas to be included in the palliative plan.
The federal lawmaker who is the committee chairman on reformatory at the House of Representatives dropped these hints on Sunday while speaking with Journalists in Abakiliki, Ebonyi state capital.
"So my advice is that going to strike will not help to solve the problem but it would cause more hardship to the less privileged in Nigeria including the civil servants.
"Why there is already a law on 'No Work, No Pay' and the federal government is ready to implement that and when that is done it is going to touch the downtrodden.
"The way forward is for the national leadership of NLC and TUC not to embark on the strike but to dialogue with the federal government.
"The idea to re-introduce mass transit to cushion the effects of subsidy removal which over time has failed us is not the best option but to ensure that our railway is working again in all the 36 states of the federation including Abuja and make it to be digital.
"Another is to ensure that our refineries return to production," he stated.
Ogah however appreciated President Tinubu for having the leadership courage to remove the fuel subsidy.
He stressed that the removal has caused an increase in the nation's foreign reserve and monthly allocation made to states and local government areas to share.
"Yes, the removal is a welcome development, now our foreign reserve has increased in less than 60 days of President Tinubu-led administration.
"Also, monthly allocation to state and local government have increased, what we all should be praying next to allow the autonomy of local government to come into reality so that the dividends of this administration would smoothly reach the downtrodden.
"When we at the committee that investigated the crude oil theft, we discovered that 10 among the ships that would bring in refined oil into Nigeria only 5 comes in with refined petrol, thereby enriching pickets of some individuals."
He assured Nigerians that the Dangote and BUA refinery projects in Lagos and Akwa-Ibom have reached 90 per cent completion.
He however noted that the Dangote refinery in Lagos has reached 90 percent completion including the BUA refinery in Akwa Ibom.
"The Dangote refinery in Lagos has reached 90 per cent completion, same with BUA refinery in Akwa Ibom and they are assiduously to ensure that two projects are completed soonest.
"So my advice is that going to strike will not help to solve the problem but it would cause more hardship to the less privileged in Nigeria including the civil servants.
"It is only through dialogue that you can get something meaningful and be valued by your members.
"So I ask the leadership of NLC and TUC including other trade unions to go into dialogue with the federal government than embarking on a nationwide strike," he said.
