The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued letters to its 43 affiliate unions, urging them to prepare for an upcoming industrial action slated to commence on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. This strike is in response to the recent hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit. Notable among the NLC affiliates are the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, among others.

In a correspondence addressed to the affiliate unions and signed by Emmanuel Ugboaja, the General Secretary of the NLC, the Congress conveyed its warm regards. The letter served as a reminder of the resolution made during the National Executive Council meeting on June 2, 2023. It was decided that the Congress would initiate a nationwide action and service withdrawal in protest against the unjustified escalation of fuel prices in all thirty-six states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.

The NLC stated that the nationwide action will commence on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. In light of this, all National Leadership members are required to mobilize their respective members for the action and ensure strict adherence to the directives. Both the public and private sectors are expected to fully withdraw their services by Wednesday, June 7, 2023. The NLC emphasized that all Presidents and General Secretaries must play their part in ensuring the implementation of the decisions made by the National Executive Council.

During his inaugural speech at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Monday, President Bola Tinubu announced that the era of subsidy payment on fuel has come to an end.

Additionally, Tinubu revealed that the 2023 budget did not allocate any funds for fuel subsidy, rendering any further payments unjustifiable. He firmly declared, "The fuel subsidy is gone," and emphasized that his administration would allocate resources towards infrastructure and other sectors to enhance the economy.

Following the presidential announcement, fuel queues quickly reemerged throughout the nation, causing distress among Nigerians due to the significant rise in petrol prices at different fuel stations.

While Tinubu's decision gained support from the NNPCL (presumably Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited) and the House of Representatives, the NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria have since opposed it.

The organized labor has maintained that the President does not possess the sole authority to make a decision on subsidy removal.