A group, the Citizens Voice Against Corruption (CIVAC), has commended President Bola Tinubu over the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, saying its halting was over due.

The group, however, urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to support the subsidy removal.

CIVAC said this via a statement issued on Friday, June 9, by its National Coordinator, Abdulrazaq Alkali.

The group recalled that the major candidates in the 2023 presidential election promised to remove fuel subsidy if elected president, “but now they are all over the place blaming president Tinubu for doing what they promised to do for Nigerians.”

It added: “We also urge Nigerians not to partake in the planned strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) against the removal of fuel subsidies by the Federal Government.

“Any confrontational action in this regard can be described as misguided, unwise and self-defeating.

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“The leaders of NLC and TUC should rise up to their duties and stop playing to gallery or the books of some elites who are benefitting immensely from the petroleum subsidy. NLC and TUC needs to get their acts together by putting future and survival of Nigeria first.”

CIVAC stated that planned strike and protest will put a halt on the operations of government offices, banks, and schools, saying it would also affect the informal sectors including markets and local transportation services.

This, it said, would cause an untold hardship to Nigerians and have significant damaging effect on an already struggling economy.

CIVAC said: “Paralysing the country of more than 200 million people, majority of the citizens live on daily wage will be highly irrational.

“Moreover, considering the delicate security situation in the country, it will be of great concern that grieving politicians, provocateurs and anarchist can hijacked the strike to stage protests and demonstrations, or hide under the cover of protestors and promote discord, anarchy and unleash mayhem to the detriment of public peace.

“We have all witness how criminal elements hijacked the EndSARS protest and the amount looting and burning that took place, while turning into tribal violence and killings in some states.

“Similarly, politicians and other interests beyond the implementation of the deregulation policy can hijacked the national protest to derive personal and selfish agendas.

“It is thus imperative for NLC and TUC leaders to avoid putting Nigeria in such delicate security situation.”

The Star