Business
Fuel subsidy: NLC, Affiliates Disagrees over Suspension of Strike

The ongoing controversy over the removal of fuel subsidy appears to have caused a heavy crack within the fold of the labour unions in the country, especially the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.
Ohibaba.com had reported earlier that the union had earlier announced that it would commence an industrial action effective today, (Wednesday) June 7.
However, after a meeting with the Federal Government, the NLC leadership called off the strike.
The Trade Union Congress, TUC, was the first to toe that line after a similar meeting with the FG, with the NLC absent during the earlier dialogue.
The development has not gone down well with the state chapters of the unions who feel they were not carried along before their leaders reached the agreement with the Federal Government.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who led the government delegation, disclosed the resolutions reached with the labour unions after a meeting at the Aso Villa.
According to him, the Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC would establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.
“The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC would review the World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose the inclusion of low-income earners in the programme”, the communique reads in part.
A chairman of the NLC in one of the states said their members were not happy with the hasty withdrawal of the industrial action without the Federal Government shifting ground on the main issue.
He spoke after the NLC convened a National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting on Tuesday, to inform their members of the latest development.
The State chairman, who was not pleased with the outcome of the meeting said: “It was a one agenda meeting to brief us on their resolution with the federal government.
“You have seen the communique the national body signed; they have confirmed to us they were part of it. All those things stated therein were the issues they raised before the federal government.
“So we will set up a technical committee that will look at them and come up with a lasting solution, so to speak, that will help to assuage the sufferings of the people with regard to the removal of the fuel subsidy.
“There was nothing much. We were briefed and they informed us that they were part of those items in the communique; that it was their agreement.
“For me and some others also, I expected a situation where the new price regime would have been suspended. The issues that were raised should hold sway but they have to suspend the price regime while this discussion goes on.
“That would have made them to hasten the discussion and come up with a workable agreement. Thereafter, the new price regime can now come in.
“But since they have decided to put the horse before the cart, then let it be. That’s just the resolution as contained in that document. They are meeting on June 19th, it’s on that day that the technical committee will take off.
“Of course, it has to be as soon as possible. It’s not going to be an indefinite thing.”
Recall that the NLC had last Friday directed its members and affiliates to begin nationwide protest and withdrawal of services from Wednesday (today) if the federal government fails to compel the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, to reverse the petrol pump price increase.
On Wednesday last week, the NNPCL announced a new fuel price template nationwide. The effect saw fuel pump prices increase from N197 per litre to over N500 nationwide.
The development followed President Bola Tinubu’s inaugural speech announcing the removal of fuel subsidy.
Tinubu had promised he would stop the controversial scheme if elected president.
He spoke before the February 25 election at a business luncheon with business owners titled: “Business Forward” in Lagos, where he hinted that, no matter how long people protest, it would not stop him from removing fuel subsidies.
He maintained that Nigeria would not continue to subsidise fuel consumption in neighbouring countries.
“How can we subsidise the fuel consumption of Cameroon, Niger, and the Benin Republic. No matter how long you protest, we are going to remove the subsidy,” he said.
Although former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government had announced the subsidy policy would end by June when the budget for the initiative would expire, Tinubu bears the brunt of its implementation.
Prior to the announcement of the suspension of the strike, the Federal Government had approached the National Industrial Court in Abuja seeking an interim order restraining the NLC and the TUC from going on strike as planned, pending the determination of the motion on notice.
Ohibaba.com had reported that the National Industrial Court granted the FG’s application and ordered the Labour unions not to strike.
The FG had submitted that the proposed strike could disrupt economic activities, the health sector and the educational sector.
They also claimed that the strike may gravely affect the larger society and the well-being of the nation at large.
Meanwhile, the TUC has demanded that the “minimum wage should be increased from the current N30,000 to N200,000 before the end of June 2023, with consequential adjustment on the cost of feeding allowance, like feeding, transport, and housing”.
While addressing journalists on Monday, the union’s President, Mr Festus Osifo, and General Secretary, Mr Nuhu Toro called for the immediate implementation of the demands, including a Tax holiday for government and private sector employees earning less than N200,000 or 500USD monthly.
TUC also asked that “A representative of state governors would be a party to any negotiation and must commit to implementing the new minimum wage.”
They also called for introducing PMS Allowance for workers that earn between N200,000 to N500,000 or 500USD to 1,200USD.
The NLC said the authorities should have listened to the poor masses before removing the fuel subsidy.
Prof Oguguo Egwu, the Ebonyi State chairman of the Congress, made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Monday in Abakaliki.
“The increase has led to the suffering of the masses. Imagine paying N550 per litre of fuel in Ebonyi here. Go back to the status quo and let us have room for negotiation. There is a need to listen to the poor.
“The federal government can do it without inflicting injury on citizens. Make sure that the people are not suffering. Have the interest of the masses at heart and not cause injury to them,” Egwu said.
On his part, the Enugu State chairman of the NLC, Comrade Barrister Fabian Nwigbo, said the national body of the NLC would be meeting by 2 pm on Tuesday (yesterday) to deliberate on the communique reached with the federal government.
Nwigbo lamented that the action being taken by the Federal Government, including its meeting with the NLC, is belated because people are already suffering.
He stated that the government should have put in place measures and palliatives to cushion the effect of the new policy.
”The national body has just invited us for a meeting at 2 pm today (Tuesday), and I think it is in line with that information on social media. So we, all of us in different States, have been discussing on our platform, waiting for that meeting to know whether that was what happened in that meeting, and then the way forward.
”But for now, we have not been properly briefed. I only got a message this morning inviting me to a virtual meeting by 2 pm. at the national office.
“So the practice is that since we had our emergency NEC last Friday, we were told not to do anything other than issues raised and agreed upon during that meeting, one may not comfortably discuss those items in that communique without hearing from the national.
”I cannot say exactly whether they (States) are carried along because I don’t have that privilege of that information. However, it is normal for state governments to wait and decide from agreements between labour or critical stakeholders and the federal government.
“So states will not come out now to say, remove fuel subsidy or don’t remove fuel subsidy, or we will do this or do that. They are waiting for that to be concluded at the national level. And after that decision, they will be given direction on what to do.
“I am aware that the presidency is saying that it has discussed with the Governors and that discussion will continue regarding what should be the palliatives that will help cushion the effect of this fuel subsidy removal.
“But to me, those things are belated. If you want to remove fuel subsidies, after removing them, you start talking about how to improve things for people; it is belated.
“Ordinarily, even with the communique that is coming now, issues ought to have been discussed and the communique in place before he removed the fuel subsidy.
”What I am saying in effect is that whatever they are doing now, even the meeting between the NLC and government representatives, for me, it’s belated; people are already suffering.
“And you know, in Nigeria, once the commodities prices have already stepped up, they can never come down, no matter what you decide. But there is nothing we can do; we will continue.
“If we succeed in our actions by his grace, the government may decide to put in our agreement certain things that may help people survive this harsh condition that the federal government has put everybody into.”
However, the Director-General of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, MINILS, Ilorin, Comrade Issa Aremu, hailed the ongoing dialogue between FG and the Labour union.
Comrade Aremu said the current policy debate is good for national development, adding that what is needed is to “work out win-win options” for the downstream petroleum sector in particular and Nigeria as a whole.
He expressed optimism that through the exchange of facts, negotiations and compromises, both the government and labour would find common ground for the inevitable reform of the downstream petroleum sector, which he said the sector unions, namely PENGASSAN and NUPENG, have been pushing for years.
“Neither policy reversal nor mass protest is an option, but genuine negotiation and social dialogue would make the deregulation policy a reality without compromising the welfare of the citizens with respect to welfare and securing jobs,” he said.
Comrade Aremu commended the initiative of President Bola Tinubu for meeting with labour leaders, which he described as “not only labour friendly but a leader that is accessible and open to engagement”.
He challenged labour and civil society to reciprocate the presidential gesture with creative options to protect public and private jobs.
Meanwhile, the NLC says it has rejected the ruling of the National Industrial Court, NIC, favouring the Federal Government against the interest of the masses and workers in the country.
Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President said this in a communique jointly signed with Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary of the Congress at the end of an emergency National Executive Council, NEC, meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
It said that the NEC meeting was called to discuss the outcome of the dialogue between the NLC and the Federal Government on the petroleum product price hike.
The NLC said the NEC in session resolved that there was a need to show the government that it was important to comply with laid down laws and court rulings.
“Especially as it concerns obedience to the rulings of the Courts and their brazen disregard to the 2023 Appropriation Act.
“To therefore support and accept the decision of the leadership of Congress to suspend the proposed strike action in compliance with the flawed rulings of the NIC.
“Also to allow negotiations to flow freely and enable final agreement during or after the 19th June, 2023, negotiation round with the federal government.
“To however register in strongest terms its disgust and disapproval with the ruling of the NIC for its continuous weaponization of the instrument of Exparte injunction in favour of the government.
“That it is against the interests of Nigerian workers in defiance of the position of the Supreme Court on the use of this instrument,” the communique read.
Congress further stated that all Affiliates and State Councils of Congress are hereby directed to suspend further action and mobilisation until the outcome of the final negotiations.
The communiqué commended all Affiliates and State Councils on their robust mobilisation towards a successful nationwide strike and to also remain vigilant in case there is a need to continue.
Business
“Nigeria Is Bigger Than PENGASSAN, Any Trade Union – Shettima
Shettima stated this in Abuja on Monday during the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31), themed: “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030”.

•Vice President Kashim Shettima
Vice President Kashim Shettima says that Nigeria is bigger than any trade union.
Shettima stated this in Abuja on Monday during the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31), themed: “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030”.
Shettima’s comment comes on the heels of the industrial action by oil workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over a dispute with the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery.
While stating that Dangote Refinery must be protected at all costs, he added that the $20 billion facility is a national asset that must be supported to function.
He said, “Aliko Dangote is not an individual, he’s an institution, and he’s a leading light in Nigeria’s economic parliament.
And how we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us. If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, he probably might be worth $70 to $80 billion by now.
“But he opted to invest in his country, and we owe it to future generations to jealously protect, promote, preserve, and protect the interests of this great Nigeria.
Business
Where Will the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Pass? Land Speculators Alert!By Dennis Isong
Spanning approximately 700 kilometers, the road is designed to stretch from Lagos, Nigeria’s beating commercial heart, all the way to Calabar in Cross River State.

The morning sun had barely pushed through the Lagos skyline when Emeka received the phone call that shook his world.
His uncle, who owned a modest piece of land near Eleko, was practically yelling on the phone:”Emeka! They’re building a massive highway right through our area! The government men came yesterday with their measuring tapes and equipment.
This thing is real, oh!”For Emeka, and many like him, that single call wasn’t just gist—it was a wake-up call to the kind of transformation that only infrastructure of historic scale can bring.
In a country where road projects often drag or die midway, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a different beast entirely. It is not just a road. It is a symbol. A promise. And, depending on how you position yourself, it can either make or break fortunes.
This kind of scene is playing out across Nigeria’s southern coast—small landowners scrambling to understand what is happening, speculators eyeing quick gains, investors calculating their next moves, and everyday Nigerians wondering if this project will truly deliver on its promise.
So, where exactly will this superhighway pass, and what does it mean for those who own or plan to own land in its path? Let’s dive deeper.
The Grand Vision: A 700-Kilometer Journey Along Nigeria’s Coast
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway represents one of the boldest infrastructure projects Nigeria has seen in decades.
Spanning approximately 700 kilometers, the road is designed to stretch from Lagos, Nigeria’s beating commercial heart, all the way to Calabar in Cross River State, hugging the coastline and connecting seven states along its path.
This is not a mere patchwork road; it is planned as a modern superhighway with ten lanes in total—five on each side—built to international standards.Why does this matter?
Because this isn’t just transportation. This is economic transformation laid out in asphalt and concrete.
By deliberately tracing the coastline, the government has chosen a route that will connect Nigeria’s key ports, industrial zones, and tourism hubs, while simultaneously opening up communities that have long been ignored in national development.
For land speculators and investors, this positioning is everything.
Places that once looked like sleepy fishing communities will suddenly find themselves positioned as gateways to Nigeria’s next economic corridor.
Phase One: Lagos to Eleko Junction – The Reality on Ground
When it comes to massive projects like this, talk can be cheap. But the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is already moving from blueprint to bulldozers.
The first section of the highway, measuring roughly 47.47 kilometers, runs from Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island to Eleko Junction in Lagos State.
This stretch—already commissioned—provides the clearest picture of where land opportunities currently exist.
Works began in March 2024, with the government promising to complete this section by May 29, 2025. That timeline matters, because for investors and speculators, time is money.
The earlier you position yourself in areas adjacent to the development, the greater the potential upside when the project fully matures.
And let’s not miss the strategic brilliance here: this Lagos stretch links directly to the Lekki Deep Seaport, which is a multi billion-dollar game changer.
Think about it—Nigeria’s busiest commercial hub, Lagos, directly tied to a world-class seaport by a brand-new highway.
The result? A logistics, trade, and industrial hub unlike anything the country has seen before.No wonder places like Ibeju-Lekki, Eleko, and the Lekki Free Trade Zone are buzzing with activity. Property inquiries have shot up.
Land values are rising. Developers are circling. And communities that once felt like far-flung outposts now find themselves in the glare of investor attention.
Works began in March 2024, with the government promising to complete this section by May 29, 2025. That timeline matters, because for investors and speculators, time is money.
The Wider Corridor: What Each State Stands to Gain
To truly understand the impact of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, you must look beyond Lagos. The real story lies in how each state it passes through will be reshaped.
Ogun State: Sitting right next to Lagos, Ogun is already known for its industrial clusters. The highway will only accelerate this by making Ogun’s coastal communities prime for both residential and commercial expansion. Lagos is bursting at the seams; Ogun will absorb much of that overflow.
Ondo State: With rich natural resources and agricultural potential, Ondo’s coastal areas have been relatively cut off. Improved access will turn sleepy fishing villages and farmlands into investment hotspots.
Delta State: Already an oil-rich state, Delta could diversify its economy with better access. Expect agriculture, trade, and services to grow once the coastal road improves logistics.
Bayelsa State: Known for oil but underserved in infrastructure, Bayelsa’s coastal communities could finally open up to tourism and commerce.
Rivers State: With Port Harcourt already a major commercial hub, the coastal highway provides an alternative to inland congestion, positioning more coastal towns for growth.
Akwa Ibom & Cross River: Tourism and trade could boom here. Imagine smooth access to Calabar Carnival, Tinapa, or Akwa Ibom’s beaches, making these states magnets for local and foreign investors, and thus, .making these states magnets for local and foreign investors.
The Demolition Dilemma: Right-of-Way Challenges
Projects rarely happen without pain. And for many small land and property owners, the highway has already been a bulldozer nightmare.In April 2024, bulldozers rolled into Oniru waterfront in Lagos, clearing kiosks, restaurants, and beachside businesses.
By December, 750 structures across different stretches of the coastal states had been affected.
This highlights a key reality: if your land sits directly on the highway’s path, you may lose it. But if your property lies slightly off the road—still close enough to benefit from its presence—you might be sitting on a goldmine.
The government, to its credit, has announced compensation programs. For example, in Section 1 alone, the federal government paid ₦2.75 billion in compensation for affected properties within the first 3 kilometers.
That not only shows seriousness but also gives speculators a benchmark for property values in these zones.Investment Hotspots: Where Smart Money Is FlowingSo, where should the alert investor look?
Lekki Free Trade Zone: This is the no-brainer. With direct ties to the seaport and highway, it’s a magnet for industry and logistics.
Eleko: Once a quiet community, it now marks the endpoint of the first phase. Land values here are rising sharply.Ibeju-Lekki: Already touted as “the new Lagos,” the highway cements its place as a hotspot for both residential estates and industrial projects.Beyond Lagos, expect hotspots to emerge in Ogun’s border communities, Ondo’s coastal villages, and eventually in Akwa Ibom and Cross River when the highway nears completion.
Timeline & Tolling: The Next 10 Years
According to Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, the first Lagos section will be ready by May 2025. But the plan isn’t just to build and abandon—the road will be tolled for 5 to 10 years to recover costs and ensure maintenance.
This matters because tolled roads generally receive better upkeep than free ones.
For investors, this means areas along the road are less likely to fall into disrepair, protecting land and property values.Interestingly, the government isn’t just building from Lagos outward.
Construction has also begun on Sections 3 and 4 from Calabar, meaning both ends are being tackled simultaneously. This could shorten the overall timeline and bring benefits faster than expected.
Beyond Transport: The Ripple Effects
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway isn’t just a road—it’s an economic multiplier.Tourism: Beach towns, cultural centers, and resorts will become more accessible, boosting hospitality investments.Agriculture: Farmers along the coast will move goods to major markets more efficiently, making agribusiness attractive.Industry: Manufacturing and processing plants will spring up near the road, cutting transportation costs.Services: Retail, banking, telecoms, and education services will follow population growth along the corridor.In short, entire towns could spring up where there was once only bush.
Risks: What Investors Must Watch
Not every land along the road is a jackpot. Risks abound.Environmental concerns may slow or alter parts of the route.
Funding risks exist, though current progress looks promising.Land title disputes—always a Nigerian headache—could derail your investment.
Speculative oversupply may flood some markets, depressing values.Competing infrastructure projects could draw attention away from certain stretches. Due diligence is non-negotiable. Verify titles. Study local government plans.
Don’t just buy because everyone else is rushing in.
The Decade Ahead: What to Expect in Fast 10 years Ahead.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is fully operational. What will Nigeria’s coast look like?Coastal towns from Lagos to Calabar will likely become bustling hubs.
Migration patterns will shift as people move to newly accessible areas.
International investors will look more favorably at Nigeria’s coastline.
Government will likely designate new special economic zones along the route.
The highway may even link into wider West African trade routes, cementing Nigeria’s position as a regional hub.
For the alert investor, the message is clear: this road is not just geography, it is opportunity.
Final Word: Land Speculators, Be Alert!
So, wlhere will the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road pass? Through Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River.
But more importantly, it will pass through the heart of Nigeria’s economic future.From Lagos Island to Calabar, this project is about more than concrete—it’s about reshaping communities, economies, and lives.If you are a land speculator or investor, your success won’t just depend on knowing where the road physically runs, but on understanding how it will transform everything around it.
Some will lose their land to bulldozers. Others will turn bush plots into multimillion-naira estates.
History is being built on Nigeria’s coastline.
The question is: will you just watch, or will you position yourself to ride the wave?
Business
Beer manufacturers reject tax stamps rollout by govt
Executive Director of the Beer Sectoral Group (BSG), Abiola Laseinde noted that the measure could trigger production disruptions and worsen the country’s inflation crisis.

Nigeria’s brewing sector has appealed to the Federal Government to abandon plans to introduce tax stamps on excisable goods.
Executive Director of the Beer Sectoral Group (BSG), Abiola Laseinde noted that the measure could trigger production disruptions and worsen the country’s inflation crisis.
She urged government to sustain existing home-grown digital excise systems rather than introducing tax stamps also known as track-and-trace identifiers, which she described as counterproductive.
The industry’s concerns echo recent warnings from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), which cautioned that the proposed tax stamp system could compound economic pressures and fuel consumer price increases.
Laseinde stressed that the application of tax stamps in the beer sector would not address illicit trade, as counterfeiting is virtually non-existent due to the complexity of the brewing process, the bulkiness of beer products and their low resale value.
She added that the industry already maintains strict compliance with excise rules, backed by digital counters, on-site Customs officers and auditable records.
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