As the organised labour is warming up to confront the federal government over the new pump price of petrol, an elder statesman and Chairman of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, at the weekend appealed to the organised labour in the county to shelve their planned industrial action.
Gbonigi, the retired Bishop of the Akure Diocese of the Anglican Communion, urged labour to be patient with the current administration noting that the recent removal of oil subsidy was a right step taken by the government to rescue the country from its current economic challenges.
The clergyman spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while speaking at a public presentation of two books written by a journalist and staff of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Mr. Oye Agunbibiade.
The octogenarian the urged Nigerians to support the President Muhammadu Buhari administration over the removal of fuel subsidy.
“The oil subsidy removal was long overdue and Nigerians should commend the present administration for having a courage to take the bold step,” he said.
However, the cleric advised the federal government to come out clean over the policy and explain to Nigerians whether the deregulation policy was total or partial and all other issues relating to the policy.
He said by engaging in thorough sensitisation of the masses on the issue, the government would be able to sincerely educate Nigerians why the subsidy should be removed at this time.
While calling on the labour to embrace dialogue with the government, the octogenarian clergyman said oil subsidy removal would lead to better reforms in the oil and gas sector.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have scheduled to commence a nationwide strike to protest the increment in the price of petrol.
