By Tochukwu Bliss, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the immediate reversal of the new price increase in pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol across the country.
The demand followed yesterday morning’s directive by the Nigerian Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) to its retail outlets to increase the pump price of between N568 and N617 per litre to N855 – N897/litre, depending on the area.
A statement issued in Abuja by its President, Joe Ajaero, said the Congress felt a deep sense of betrayal by sudden increase in the pump price of petrol.
Although, the Company has denied issuing the directive, checks at the NNPCL retail stations in Abuja reflected the new price of N897/litre
Mr. Ajaero 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.
He further recalled that at their meeting with President Bola 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/litre.
The statement reads in part: “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 the 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 the government that its approach to resolving the fuel subsidy contradictions was patently faulty and would not last, its front row cheerleaders sneered at us, saying we did not understand basic economics.
“But if truth be told, this act of betrayal is consistent,” he said.
But here we are, barely one month after and with the government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, confronted by a reality we cannot explain. It is both traumatic and nightmarish.
The labour leader also recalled the assurances given to the congress by the leadership of the National Assembly on the reversal of the 250% 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.
Additionally, the NLC called for the release of all those incarcerated or being prosecuted for participating or purportedly participated in the recent #Endbadgovernance protest.
The Congress also demanded a halt in the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped up charges.
“The Congress demands a stop to the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
“We also demand an end to policies that engender hunger and insecurity as well as a halt to the government’s culture of terror, fear and lying,” the statement added.
The Congress also informed that tits appropriate organs would be meeting in the coming days to take appropriate decisions which would be made public
