Former Rivers State governorship candidate, Prince Tonye Princewill has criticised organised labour for being too silent on the removal of the subsidy on petrol by the Federal Government.
In an interview with selected journalists, Princewill said Nigerians expect to hear more from labour given the pains and hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu.
He stated that though subsidy removal was not peculiar to Nigeria, the apex government’s decision to do so without putting the necessary measures in place to cushion its effect on the citizens was unfortunate.
“It (subsidy) didn’t just come by surprise. So palliative measures, and countermeasures needed to have been put in place.
“We have enough brains in this country to establish things that need to be put in place to make the pains of people a lot easier.
“If that has not been put in place as far as I’m concerned, there is no excuse. So it is unfortunate.”
Princewill further said spending trillions of Naira subsidising fuel is ‘nonsensical’, saying, “If you are not going to do that, then you have to have alternatives in place.”
He added, “If you are going to take away this money and make these savings, then you have to point out what is it you are doing with the money.
“The government has to answer those questions. If they don’t answer those questions, people will not forget.
“I think labour has been a bit too quiet. I don’t know what the negotiation is that is ongoing or not ongoing. But we (Nigerians) expect to hear from labour a lot more in this regard,” He said
Tonye Princewill also announces the burial of his late father and King of Kalanari Kingdom, HRM. TJT Princewill, the longest-serving monarch in Rivers would be laid to rest between November 29-30, 2023.
