Petrol subsidy removal: Nigerians tackle Tinubu’s aide over ‘politically-tainted NLC, TUC’ claims

Nigerians have tackled the media aide to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Bayo Onanuga over the latter’s allegations accusing organised labour of embarking on a ‘politically-tainted’ campaign against his principal for calling out an industrial action following the recent withdrawal of subsidy on imported premium motor spirit (petrol).

President Bola Tinubu, had last Monday during his inaugural speech declared that the petrol subsidy regime in the country is over, as he stated ‘no more fuel subsidy.’

The announcement had triggered a massive reaction in the market as across the country, as marketers unsure of the future situation quickly hiked the pump price of petrol by up to 200 per cent.

Meanwhile, Organised Labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) after a deadlocked meeting with the Federal Government and its relevant agencies, and also following a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of heads of its affiliated groups, has declared Wednesday, next week to embark on a nationwide industrial action, as they demand a reversal of the policy by Tinubu citing the failure by the latter to enter a dialogue with them with a view to exploring common grounds that caters for the welfare of the general public.

The NLC argued that the decision to announce a new pump price regime was further against the interest of social dialogue, as it criticised the removal of petrol subsidy before any formal engagement with the organised labour ‘so as to protect the Nigerian workforce and proffer additional solutions.’

However, media aide to President Tinubu, Friday, in a statement titled ‘The politically tainted NLC, TUC, launched into a tirade claiming that the decision by the unions to call out a nationwide industrial action over the petrol subsidy removal was politically tainted, further insisting that the president of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero ‘is no more a labour leader. He is a politician and leader of Labour Party. He is no more representing all the Nigerian workers.’

“NLC President Joe Ajaero has asked workers to go on strike next Wednesday over the removal of petrol subsidy, despite being privy to the distressing financial figures, which justified why subsidy ought to have been scrapped a long time ago. My advice to the perceptive workers and the Nigerian populace is simply to ignore Ajaero and his ilk. He is playing politics and is actually acting the script of the opposition Labour Party, out to destabilise the young Tinubu administration.

“Besides, one wonders whose interest Ajaero is championing, when he did not oppose the position of   his Labour Party and presidential candidate, who  campaigned with the promise to scrap subsidy from Day One, if elected.

“NLC and TUC leaders knew since last year November that subsidy will be scrapped from July 1 as no provision has been made in the budget for it, beyond this date. The Federal Government which already commits 96 percent of its revenue in servicing debt is not in any position to continue selling subsidised fuel, most of which is smuggled across our borders for criminal and obscenely unpatriotic profit.

“Subsidy of fuel is no longer unsustainable as the FG is virtually broke. Apart from its N77 trillion debt, it also owes the NNPC Limited about N2.4trillion for past subsidies.

“The Nigerian people and workers should support the government as it works out new wages and rolls out other interventions, as promised by President Tinubu, to mitigate the effects of new fuel price.

“Let’s not make ourselves pawns in the hands of the politically biased and tainted NLC and TUC. Ajaero is no more a labour leader. He is a politician and leader of Labour Party. He is no more representing all the Nigerian workers,” the media aide stated, via his Twitter handle (@aonanuga1956), Friday.

Reacting to Onanuga’s position, in various posts captured by Oracle Today, Nigerians moved to tackle Tinubu’s aide by reminding him that his principal also led a protest march against ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012 when the former leader had attempted to remove subsidy on imported petroleum products in the country, as they asked him if it was not politically-motivated then.

An attempt also by another Twitter user, Dipo to explain that the country was economically sound back in 2012 and so could sustain the subsidy regime, was met by another barrage of reactions as many replied with suggestions that then would also have been an appropriate time to effect the removal since Nigerian could have borne the hardship better than presently.

Below are reactions trailing Onanuga’s statement as compiled by Oracle Today from Twitter:

Olasupo Jakes – Bsc RPN (@JakesOlasupo) wrote:

When they marched side-by-side with Tinubu in 2012 to protest against subsidy removal, they weren’t politically tainted back then, right?

Every lie has an expering date. If any group or organisation disagrees with Tinubu; they are politically tainted. #Sigh.

Ikechukwu Ude (@Ozo_Ude) wrote:

You were at ojota in 2012!

What changed?

How can you remove subsidy before mitigation of the effects?

How can you deny the masses the only gain of democracy?

Without fuel subsidy, Nigerians gain absolutely nothing from the govt despite several billions the govt make everyday.

This subsidy must be sustained, retained, till proper efficient measures are proferred and implemented.

Anyone who attempts to remove subsidy without plans to cushion it’s effects is insensitive, unpatriotic and wicked. We have enough challenges being a Nigerian

H2h (@Theraelh2h) wrote:

Did Tinubu not occupy the streets of Lagos when Jonathan proposed this same policy then even with lower pump price compared to now? Integrity is the beginning of every good venture. You can not arrive at a good destination from the wrong way.

Tinubu writer’s association they have all sharpened their pen and paper

Victor Wolemonwu (@DrVic_Exotic) wrote:

NLC and TUC are politically tainted when their demands ain’t favourable to your political leaning.

#MrHypocrite, tell your boss #BoboChicago to revert to the original price or the NLC and TUC will occupy Nigeria the same way as you occupied Nigeria in 2012. Abi you don forget?

Macben Otu Idam (@Idammacbeno) wrote:

I’m not surprised that you wrote this devilish piece.

Removing the criminal fuel subsidy prematurely and with no cushioning plans on ground is tantamount to putting the cart before the horse; it is wicked.

Chukwudi Levi (@Levchuks) wrote:

“… despite being privy to the distressing financial figures, which justified why subsidy ought to have been scrapped a long time ago.”

Oga Bayo, who were the masterminds of the protest that stifled the strategical subsidy removal plan of GEJ administration a long time ago?

El stepheano (@stephen_adoga) wrote:

Same subsidy that your party made us believe doesn’t exist. Oloriburuku

Sadiya (@Sadiya53648559) wrote:

There’s nothing wrong in the removal of subsidy, but you can’t do that without plans. Cut down the salaries of all the top govt officials and work on minimum wage. The poor should not keep making sacrifice while the rich keep feeding fat on the poor. Does it make sense.

Inibehe Effiong (@InibeheEffiong) wrote:

Bola Tinubu is demanding that citizens should make sacrifices for elusive long term benefits. But what sacrifices has Tinubu made or is willing to make?

It’s diabolical for any regime to subject the citizens to agony when fiscal discipline has not been implemented by the regime.

You announce an end to subsidy, but no announcement that you’re ending profligacy in government.

You’ve not shown examples of adherence to fiscal discipline.

Rather, we’re already seeing signs of state capture.

What are the plans to cushion the harsh effects of this policy?

Dare Babasola (@DareBabasola) wrote:

I agree with your assertions, Sir, but don’t you think that measures that will cushion the effect of the subsidy removal should come first, why the sudden implementation when infact, you have stated in your write that subsidy was supposed to last till 30 June 2023.

Dipo (@DipoPopson) wrote:

In 2012, Nigeria was so rich that we could have revived all our refineries so it was justified to kick against the subsidy removal. Today, Nigeria is broke and payment of any further subsidies will only plunge Nigeria into more debt as the funds would have to be borrowed.

This is the reality so no serious govt will ever continue on that route unless we are not ready to develop as a nation.

Mister Olawale (@emperor_walexy) Replying @DipoPopson wrote:

While I agree with your contribution on the situation on the ground, the federal govt. Should have cushion the negative impact on this action taken as average Nigerians are the ones to bear the heavy burden of this subsidy removal. We cannot ignore this aspect.

Possible Esangha (@possible_) Replying @DipoPopson wrote:

“In 2012, Nigeria was so rich…” That’s the point. Back then, Nigerians could comfortably bear the cost of subsidy removal. Which is why it was the best time to do it. But today majority of Nigerians can barely feed and you think it’s the best time for it and without any plan.