The Central Working Committee of Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ has directed all State Councils of the Union to mobilise members to withdraw their services and commence protests nationwide from Wednesday next week, 7th June, 2023, if the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNCPL) refused to reverse the new price regime in the oil sector.
NUJ stated this in a release signed its National Secretary ,Shuaibu Usman Leman,after an emergency Central Working Committee meeting of the Union convened online today, Saturday, June 3, 2023, to discuss issues surrounding the decision by the Federal Government to remove Fuel Subsidy and the position taken by the Nigeria Labour Congress.
After presentations by the National President, Chris Isiguzo, and the National Treasurer Bamidele Atunbi on the position taken by NLC on the matter, the union unanimously adopted the position of NLC on the issue.
NUJ CWC reiterated the argument that although the removal of fuel subsidy will free allocations which can be channeled to the provisions of infrastructure and creation of additional jobs, the sudden removal could however lead to social unrests and protests as people may perceive Government as being insensitive to their plight.
NUJ also noted that already there was an astronomical increase in the prices of petroleum products and high inflation which have drastically reduced the purchasing power of citizens.
