NULGE President Confirms Union’s Participation in Nationwide Strike

The President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Mr. Ambali Olatunji, has affirmed his union’s readiness to participate in the impending nationwide strike scheduled for Tuesday.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had previously announced an indefinite strike starting on October 3, 2023, in response to the hardships caused by the Federal Government’s removal of the oil subsidy.

Addressing the issue in Akure following the election of a new executive for the Ondo State Chapter of NULGE, Olatunji asserted that the union would indeed be part of the strike action.

He stated, “To prevent the NLC strike, President Bola Tinubu must provide leadership. The President inadvertently caused this hardship through his May 29 proclamation without thorough consideration of economic factors. We understand that the previous government misinformed him, and while we don’t oppose the removal of the subsidy, there must be measures in place to mitigate its impact.

“Due to corruption and inefficiency, we can’t maintain our refineries. Nigeria is the sole oil-producing nation globally that cannot refine crude oil. We shouldn’t endure this burden. Instead, we should unite the modular refinery operators in the Niger Delta, enhance their capabilities, license them, and collect taxes, making it an internal process without the need for foreign currency. This would create jobs, benefit local communities, and why dismantle their refineries when we lack the capacity?

“In many countries, governments subsidize various sectors. It’s surprising that President Tinubu is following the path of Buhari and others. If you want to provide palliatives, allocate 50% to pensioners. People are suffering, and some are resorting to desperate measures. The government must also reduce the size of its bureaucracy; ministers should not exceed 25 or 26, with others serving as special advisers. We need better management.”

The NULGE National President emphasized the importance of the government’s support for local governments, particularly in terms of equipment and infrastructure.

Furthermore, he criticized the distribution of palliatives, claiming that it had become overly politicized.