A civil society group, Free Nigeria Movement (FNM), has urged President Bola Tinubu to rescind his decision to remove petrol subsidy or face nationwide protests. 

“We call for the immediate reversal of this pronouncement, the failure of which we shall begin national protests within the next seven (7) days”, Moses Paul, FNM’s convener, said via a statement made available to the Gazette on Friday

He also urged government to make sure that palliatives are offered to lessen the impact of the increase in pump price.

President Tinubu announced the withdrawal of fuel subsidy in his inaugural speech on Monday, saying that the present administration did not make provision for such in the 2023 appropriation act.

The announcement, however, came with severe fuel shortage that saw several petrol stations close down and others raise their pump prices in order to benefit handsomely from panicked purchases.

“While we understand the need to bring the criminal regime of subsidy to a close, we do not understand the urgency of this pronouncement given that a prior arrangement by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration set the withdrawal of subsidy for June 2023,” Mr Paul said.

“The hurry without any consideration of what cushioning mechanisms would be put in place to lessen the agony of our vast poor demography is most worrisome.

“We are, therefore, curious like many Nigerians, of what the intention of the pronouncement was.

“Standing with the poor people of Nigeria and never compromising their position. As always, we call on Nigerians to stand up to defend our country and our right to live with every inch of dignity in it. This is the only country we have. We will defend it with every stretch of our being standing on the law. This is the only way that Nigeria can stand for the good of all. As always, Let Nigeria Win,” Mr Paul said. 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) earlier announced a nationwide strike beginning on Wednesday.

The union announced the industrial action on Friday, following a meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja over the fuel subsidy removal and subsequent hike in the pump price of petrol.

The NEC comprises all Presidents, General Secretaries, Treasurers of all NLC’s affiliate unions; State Chairpersons and Secretaries of the NLC State Councils, Chairperson of the NLC Youth Committee and members of the National Administrative Council (NAC).