By John Ikani
The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has initiated a nationwide protest following the government’s decision to eliminate fuel subsidy.
The announcement of the removal of fuel subsidy made by President Bola Tinubu in his inauguration speech resulted in a threefold hike of fuel prices with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) instructing its retail stations to significantly raise the price of fuel per litre, from N197 to a staggering range of N488 to N570.
Responding to the mounting public outcry, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) swiftly declared a nationwide strike in protest against the fuel price hike.
In a strongly worded statement, M.J. Akwashiki, the General Secretary of JUSUN, expressed solidarity with the NLC’s decision.
He emphasized the need for unified action, stating, “This followed a decision of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) at her meeting on 2nd June, 2023, over the increase in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Federal Government through the NNPCL.”
To ensure a cohesive and effective response, JUSUN’s General Secretary, M.J. Akwashiki, directed all branches and chapters of the union to initiate nationwide mobilization efforts and commence a withdrawal of services.
Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, he added, “All zonal vice presidents are to coordinate their zones by ensuring that branch and chapter chairmen mobilize their members for total compliance.”
