BY NEWS DESK, SEPTEMBER 04, 2024 | 01:18 PM
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called for the immediate reversal of the new price increase in pump price of petrol across the country, regretting that the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government had betrayed them.
Recall that the Nigerian Petroleum Corporation Ltd., NNPCL, on Tuesday morning, reportedly directed increase in its pump price of between N568 – N617 per litre to N855 – N897 per litre, depending on the area.
Although, the company had denied issuing the directive, checks at NNPCL retail stations in Abuja reflected the new price of N897 per litre.
But the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in a statement on Tuesday, recalled that one of the reasons for accepting N70,000 as national minimum wage was the understanding that the pump price of petrol would not be increased, even as they knew that N70,000 was not sufficient.
Mr Ajaero said the Congress felt a deep sense of betrayal by the increase in the pump price of petrol.
He recalled that their meeting with President Tinubu, where they were given the options of either N250,000 minimum wage and a rise of pump price between N1,500 and N2,000 or N70,000 minimum wage and retaining pump price of N568 – N617 per litre.
“We opted for the latter because we could not bring ourselves to accept further punishment on Nigerians.
“But here we are, barely one month after and with government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, confronted by a reality we cannot explain. It is both traumatic and nightmarish.
“Yet, when we told government that it’s approach to resolving the fuel subsidy contradictions was patently faulty and would not last, they did not agree with us,” he said.
Mr Ajaero also recalled the assurances given to the congress by the leadership of the National Assembly on the reversal of 250 per cent electricity tariff hike.
He said, instead of the promised reversal, the rate has since been jerked up further, putting more Nigerians and businesses in jeopardy.
In addition to the reversal of the increased price of petrol pump price and electricity tariff, the NLC called for the release of those incarcerated for participating in the recent #Endbadgovernance protest.
Mr Ajaero said in the coming days, the appropriate organs of the congress would be meeting to take appropriate decisions which would be made public.
(NAN)
Conflict Reporting is dangerous and risky. Our reporters constantly face life-threatening challenges, sometimes surviving ambushes, kidnap attempts and attacks by the whiskers as they travel and go into communities to get authentic and firsthand information. But we dare it every day, nonetheless, in order to keep you informed of the true situation of the victims, the trends in the conflicts and ultimately help in peace building processes. But these come at huge cost to us. We are therefore appealing to you to help our cause by donating to us through any of the following means. You can also donate working tools, which are even more primary to our work. We thank you sincerely as you help our cause.
Alternatively, you can also email us on
info@yen.ng or message us
via +234 803 931 7767