Tinubu visits NLC, begs Wabba to suspend strike

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yes­terday led high-powered delegation consisting of the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, Senator Oth­man Suleiman Hykuni and the former NLC president, Abdulwaheed Omar to beg the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to suspend its strike.

Mr Tinubu in his address said the current administra­tion under President Mu­hammadu Buhari is already in talks with investors who are willing to build new re­fineries in the country and bring an end to the perenni­al challenges of fuel scarcity.

According to him, the country can no longer sus­tain the subsidy regime due to lack of adequate foreign exchange. He said Nigeri­ans can trust President Bu­hari because he is a man of integrity.

He said, “We have refin­eries, but are they serving our people? No. Why? Rea­sons have been given gov­ernment after government - Turn Around Maintenance (TAM), vandalisation, mili­tancy, different excuses. The question is: Nigeria’s oil sub­sidy benefiting millions of poor Nigerians? Why should we continue to do the same thing over and over? We must try new things.

“I am here to appeal to you that whatever this gov­ernment is doing now is for the best interest of Nigerians. You brought this government about. Without you, without your support, we couldn’t have won the election. Now we have won the election, we now look at ourselves, can we manage the victory? Can we use the success to make the positive change?”

He said when the last ad­ministration of President Goodluck Jonathan increased fuel price in 2012, he prom­ised to provide palliatives in­cluding SURE-P. He howev­er said the SURE-P became a conduit for siphoning funds.

In his response, Wabba said the strike is not about personal issues but to pursue a better life for Nigerians.

“I think there is no much difference between what we are saying, it’s only the ap­proach that is different. We have taken into note of your plea and this high-powered visit. This will be discussed and communicated to the ap­propriate organ of the NLC,” he stated.