March 29, 2024

PMS price hike: NLC mobilises 48 affiliate unions, Miyetti Allah, 36 states council for Wednesday nationwide withdrawal of services 

 

Oredola Adeola

 

The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) has mobilised  48 affiliate unions, Miyetti Allah Peace Initiative and all its 36 states’ councils including Abuja, to embark on nationwide withdrawal of services, if the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other petroleum products’ marketers failed to reverse the new pump price of Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) also known as petrol, reflecting between N557 to N488 per litre.

 

 

The NLC in a statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary of the NLC said that the leadership of the NLC arising from its National Executive Council meeting held on Friday decided that the Congress will embark on a nationwide action and withdrawal of services, against what the Congress described as fraudulent increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) also known as petrol, across the thirty-six states of the Federation and the FCT.

 

 

He said, “The nationwide action will commence on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.”

 

He said that the Congress has directed all the State Chairpersons to mobilise workers for their action and ensure full compliance with the directives as services in both the public and private sector are expected to be fully withdrawn by Wednesday.

 

 

Comrade Joe Ajaero,  President of NLC had earlier on Friday said that the organised labour would have no choice but to withdraw their services if the increment in prices is not reversed before next week Tuesday.

 

 

The NLC President said, “The Congress decided that if by Wednesday, the NNPCL, that illegally announced a price regime in the oil sector refuses to reverse itself for negotiation to continue, the NLC and all its affiliates will withdraw their services and commence protests nationwide until this is complied with.

 

 

“The NNPCL doesn’t have the monopoly to act illegally even as a private company. The NLC NEC, therefore, directs all state councils and all industrial unions to commence mobilisation from this moment to make sure that this action is enforced. The action has commenced immediately.”

 

 

“The NLC is calling for a thorough probe in the process of subsidy to know those involved and the amount involved. Investigate it properly before it is swept under the carpet. The current attempt to sweep the fraudulent practices in the subsidy regime should not be tolerated by all well-meaning Nigerians,” Ajaero insisted.

 

 

The NLC President bemoaned the actions of the national oil company limited for not disclosing the identities of the acclaimed beneficiaries of subsidy.

 

 

The Congress also insisted that the NNPCL must tell Nigerians the actual landing cost of petroleum products and provide the volume of petrol daily consumed by Nigerians.

 

 

EnergyDay gathered that the Congress has therefore directed aviation workers to shut down on Tuesday night, while PENGASSAN members are also expected to shut down all crude oil export terminals and NUPENG would ground petrol tankers around the country. The members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have also been asked to shut all motor parks across the country.

 

 

The Congress has also received the support of Northern Women Assembly (NOWA) and the  Miyetti Allah Peace Initiative led by its National President. Honourable Yusuf Musa Ardo  who have shown solidarity to the Congress and support its position against the petrol price hike by the federal government.

 

 

Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), in an address shortly after the Congress’ emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Friday, condemned the unilateral decision of the NNPCL to increase fuel prices without consulting relevant stakeholders.

 

 

He said that the National Administrative Council (NAC) of TUC has been empowered to unveil its Charter of Demands to the Nigerian Government negotiating team on Saturday, adding that the next move of the TUC will depend on the outcome of the meeting.

 

 

Osifo said, “During our last meeting, we were asked to submit our list of demand to the government team, but we said such a list can only be made by our relevant organs. This was after the government team had listed several things that would be done to ameliorate the sufferings that will be brought on the people by the subsidy removal.

 

“This is why we called this meeting to deliberate on our demands. The requests are ready and will be made known to the government team on Sunday. It is the outcome of the meeting that will determine our next line of action,” the TUC President said.