Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a protégé of President Bola Tinubu, has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress to shelve its planned nationwide strike over the removal of fuel subsidy.

The governor claimed there was enough fuel in the country to go round though many filling stations in Lagos and across the country remain shut following Mr Tinubu’s infamous declaration that “fuel subsidy is gone.”

“Let us be patient and work with the president. NNPC has said it has more than enough fuel to go round, so there is no need to heat up the polity,” stated the Lagos governor.

Mr Sanwo-Olu cautioned that “we should not get political because it is governance, and the people must see purposeful governance.”

He added, “So I plead with the NLC not to turn the subsidy issue into a political one. The leadership should know they are leading people, and so there is (a) need to restrain themselves.”

The governor urged the labour leaders to join hands with his political godfather’s administration at the federal level and be patient with Mr Tinubu in his commitment to turn the economy around and make Nigeria a better place for all.

He also reminded NLC that Mr Tinubu had just assumed office and should be cut some slack.

“The president has not even spent one week in office. We need to be very patient and reason together. Let us not make the issue about politics, but let’s support this man. We should allow him (to) go and reflect,” the governor said after a post-inauguration thanksgiving service at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina.

He stressed that “this is not the time” for labour unions to go on strike.

The thanksgiving service signified the end of activities to mark the governor’s second term inauguration.

His wife, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat and the wife, Oluremi Hamzat, were also at the event.

(NAN)