TUC: Why Fuel Subsidy Removal Protest Was Shelved

*Edo launches 24-hour unlimited free internet service in MDAs for workers

*Kwara to deploy free bus services for students, civil servants from June 14

*Adeleke set to unveil palliatives, says media aide 

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City, Yinka Kolawole in Oshogbo and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin.

The Deputy Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Idogen Emmanuel, at the weekend, gave reasons why the labour centre did not embark on nationwide protest over the sudden removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.
Emmanuel, who hails from Ubiaja, headquarters of Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, gave the hint while speaking to journalists in Benin City.
He explained that at first, the union did not believe that there was anything like subsidy, but after finding out that Nigeria petroleum marketers take the products to African countries like Cameroon, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana and up to Senegal and make more money, the union decided to back down.

He pointed out that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in calling out workers for the suspended strike action did not follow due process, as it ought have given the government mandatory 14 days strike notice and ought to have taken other steps including three days warning strike.
“This was not done. That was why we decided to rescind our decision to embark of strike.
“This was why we also asked all the stakeholders to go back to draw a plan since the minimum wage will not benefit every common man on the streets,” he explained.

Emmanuel, disclosed that there were other holistic measures being considered such as mass transit buses, as well ploughing funds into education, health and agriculture sectors to boost learning, well-being and food sufficiency in the country.
The Lagos TUC deputy chairman also disclosed that he was in the Edo State to pick the intent form to contest September 19, 2023, Local Government Elections in the state for the position of Chairmanship on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said he decided to contest for the office of Esan South East local government because over the years the area has been “politically rapped” by past administrators who governed the council.

“Ubiaja has been headquarters for a long time even before the creation of more LGAs in 1991 and 1996 by the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Sanni Abacha, respectively but there is nothing to show”, he alleged.
He recalled how 12 years ago, he had to mobilise to evacuate the heaps of refuse at the market which was already constituting health hazards in the locality.
He said if elected he would employ mechanised farming as a means of creating gainful employment in the local government area given the rich and vast arable land in the area.
“When elected, we will also look at how we can think out of the box. We have arable land in my place. So we are looking at mechanized farming as a means of creating employment and boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the area”, he declared

Fuel Subsidy Removal: Edo Launches 24-hour Unlimited Free Internet Service in MDAs

Meanwhile, Edo State Government is providing 24-hour free Wi-Fi service in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other public places in the state to ensure unlimited internet access to workers in the wake of the three-day weekly work schedule for civil and public servants as part of efforts to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
In a statement, the Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, said the government was committed to ensuring optimal productivity and efficiency amid the new work schedule, noting that the free Wi-Fi service would guarantee free internet access to workers and others who need internet connectivity to perform their duties and reside in proximity to the designated locations covered by the Wi-Fi service.

According to the Head of Service, the locations with installed free Wi-Fi include the School of Nursing, Limit Road/Sapele Road; Pensions Bureau, Ring Road Roundabout; Victor Uwaifo Centre, Airport Road; Civil Service Commission, Sapele Road, and the John Odigie Oyegun Publilc Service Academy (JOOPSA), Central area Road/Igbinedion Road.
Okungbowa further stated that each of the sites offers approximately 180 degrees coverage from the point of presence, which are the above listed public places.

Kwara to Deploy Free Bus Services for Students, Civil Servants from June 14

In a related development, Kwara State Governor and Chairman Nigeria’s Governors Forum, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the deployment of government buses free of charge to support movement of students and workers in public tertiary institutions within Ilorin, the capital city, and its environs.
Already, the state government had purchased buses for the palliative and it would commence free transport service from June 14, this year in the state.
The state government had earlier reduced workdays for civil servants from five to three every week, while bureaucrats work out other measures for workers that are exempted from the policy

However, a statement issued in Ilorin, yesterday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor explained: “The bus palliative for the students covering the metropolis is the second phase in the measures by the Kwara government to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.”
The governor added, “From Wednesday, June 14, some large buses will be deployed to transport students of public tertiary institutions within the metropolis, including those going to the Kwara State University campus at Malete.

“Further details will be released by the coordinating MDAs.”
AbdulRazaq, however said: “The state government will continue to offer immediate support for the Kwara public as Nigeria permanently transitions to the post-fuel subsidy regime and different steps are taken to bring more ease to the people while growing the economy in a sustainable way.”

Adeleke will Soon Unveil Palliatives, Says Media Aide

Governor Ademola Adeleke will soon unveil palliatives to cushion the effect of recent subsidy removal, the spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, disclosed yesterday.
Speaking on IMOLE AYO, a sensitisation programme promoting the activities of the Adeleke’s administration on OSBC Radio and Television channels, the spokesperson said the planned intervention would cover support for public transport, monitoring of fuel stations and public sector work time reviews.
He said top officials were finalising the state palliative plan in line with the directives of the governor.
According to him, the governor’s plan was to be sustainable, impactful and result oriented.

“Mr. Governor is set to announce the state plan to cushion the effect of hike in fuel price. Our governor is pro-people and pro-worker.
“He wants an all-encompassing intervention in which all strata of the society will benefit,” the spokesperson said on the Yoruba language phone in programme.
Olawale stressed that the governor was working tirelessly to make life bearable for the people of Osun State in all ramifications
According to the spokesperson to the governor, Adeleke should be commended for being prudent in the management of the state resources explaining that the meagre resources are being used to provide social amenities across the state.