The Nigerian Labour Congress has called on the Federal Government to revert the price of petroleum to N86 per litre.
The union has threatened a nationwide shutdown if the federal government failed to yield to their demand within 96 hours.
NLC president, Ayuba Wabba stated the ultimatum to the government was the collective resolution of the NECs of the various affiliate unions and civil society groups.
As stated by him, “Since there has not been any increase in salaries, wages or pensions of workers in the past five years, and in the face of devaluations, spiraling inflation and other vagaries of the economy, the increase in fuel price is unrealistic, unaffordable, unacceptable, and is thus rejected.
“It is evident that the neo-liberal forces in the government have taken over, and we should expect more inhumane policies which will further degrade the living standard of the average Nigerian. The punitive electricity tariff and PMS product prices may just be teasers,” he also stated.
Wabba described the removal of fuel subsidy as “not only ultra vires and illegal, but also a criminal imposition on the citizenry” considering that the board of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), which is statutorily vested with powers to recommend prices, has not been reconstituted.
“The price hike from N86:50 to N145, representing 67.63% increase, is the height of insensitivity and impunity as there was no previous consultation with stake holders, especially the organized labour, or any justification for this reckless decision other than the fact that government believes it is accountable to no one,” he stated in a statement issued on Saturday.
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