The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has expressed concern over what it called “geometric rise” in public transportation as a consequence of the removal of fuel subsidy.The Union said that only a few workers in the public and private sectors are now facing the challenge of commuting daily to their workplaces, while others have abandoned their places of meagre earning due to their inability to finance their transportation.
In a statement today, July 6, jointly signed by the acting chairman, Òsárétín Òsádébàmwén and the secretary, Ochiaka Ugwu, the Union said that while it subscribes to a better Nigeria, requiring sacrifices, such should not be made to threaten the survival of the people.
It regretted that the subsidy removal and the resultant rise in fuel price has led to intra-city transportation, rising to as much as 150 percent.
“Owing to the dire situation, the NUJ demands for immediate intervention by the government to stave off the building of possible social tension and its attendant consequences.
“For the NUJ-FCT, the immediate measure by the Federal government and the FCT Administration is the roll out of transport palliative to cover all intra-city routes to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians.
“The Union recognizes the fact that President Bola Tinubu has kept one of his campaign promises to remove fuel subsidy and channel the revenue loss to other social welfare programmes, we believe that the provision of transport palliatives is an urgent intervention that will go a long way.”
