Fuel Subsidy: total blackout looms as electricity workers sets to go on nationwide strike

The abrupt elimination of fuel subsidy by the Nigerian government has prompted the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) to advise its members to stop working across the country.

The NUEE requested its members to comply with the decision and begin the work stoppage on Wednesday morning in a notice signed by the acting general secretary, Dominic Igwebike.

President Bola Tinubu declared the end of the petroleum subsidy scheme in his inauguration speech on Monday, calling it unsustainable.

In reaction to this declaration, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) authorized its outlets to sell fuel at a much higher price range of N480 to N570 per litre, an almost 200 percent increase from the initial price of less than N200.

On Friday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) declared its intention to organize a nationwide protest on the following Wednesday if the NNPCL refused to revert to the previous price regime in the oil sector. The Nigerian Union of Journalists also threatened to participate in the strike action.

In a letter to its members on Sunday, the NUEE explained that its decision was a result of the NLC emergency national executive council (NEC) meeting, held on June 2 at the Labour House in Abuja, to address the sudden removal of fuel subsidy, which was causing significant hardships for Nigerians and contributing to increased inflation in the economy.

The statement directed all national, state, and chapter executives to mobilize their members in full compliance with the directive, with the withdrawal of services nationwide commencing from 00.00 hours on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

“To this effect, all National, State and Chapter executives are requested to start the mobilisation of our members in total compliance with this directive,” the statement said.

“Please note that withdrawal of Services nationwide commences from 0.00 hours of Wednesday, June 7, 2023,” the statement reads in part.