NLC mulls strike action over fuel price increase

Chinazor Megbolu |

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is contemplating calling out the organised labour to protest the recent hike in fuel price.

The Petroleum Pricing Marketing Company (PPMC) yesterday increased the depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) which consequently shot up the pump price of the product between N151 to N161.

The organised labour, in the wake of the increase, said the Federal Government is insensitive to the plight of the Nigerians, saying Nigerian workers, who are already impoverished, rejected the latest increase in its entirety.

The President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba on Wednesday said the development was a clear demonstration of the insensitivity of government to the plight of Nigerians, accusing the Government of taking its citizens for granted.

Wabba disclosed that by this development, the NLC cannot guarantee industrial harmony.

According to him; “in fact Nigerians and even NLC, we are in a shock, and this increase is coming at a time when many Nigerians are passing through very peculiar and precarious times.

“It’s like Nigerians are being taken for a ride, the increase in the price of petroleum is like adding insult to injury

“The increase in the price of petroleum has happened now more than three times in three months, only yesterday they hiked the tariff of electricity.

And to compound it, they also reduced the interest rate of savings which affects mostly the poor and the vulnerable.

“While rejecting this with the strongest terms, I think the Nigerian government is taking Nigerians for granted.

“At the end of the day, Nigerians are becoming poorer and poorer, in fact, many people are already on the edge. Many workers are already on the edge.

“Certainly, we cannot guarantee industrial peace and harmony, and we will have to call our organs and we will have to also react but we reject it in its entirety”.

Wabba, however, stressed that Government has betrayed the trust of Nigerians from being protected against the economic challenges affecting them.

Recall that following the Federal Government increase of ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N151.56 per litre, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) equally mandated its members in the Southwest region of the country to sell the product at a retail price of N162 per litre.

The southwest Zonal Chairman of IPMAN, Alhaji ‘Dele Tajudeen told journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State few hours after the Federal Government increased the depot price to N151.56 per litre.

He hinted that his members would be left with no other option than to dispense the product at a price of N162.

Tajudeen also noted that since the federal government decided to fix the price of the product at N151. 56k, IPMAN has no choice than to sell at N162 to be able to meet up with the overhead cost.