The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for a nationwide protest on January 27, 2022 against the plan by the Federal Government to increase the pump price of petrol.
The Congress, however, said that should the Federal Government decide to increase the price of fuel before the said date, the protest will kick off instantly and without any other further notice in every state of the federation and Abuja.
In a communique signed at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Friday, the NLC described as extremely insensitive to the acute hardship being experienced by Nigerian workers and people the plan by the government to increase price of petrol.
The Communique was signed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja.
The Communique reads in part, “That the genesis of the crisis in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sub-sector especially as it relates to the petrol pump price regime could be linked to a Policy of Importation Based Pricing Template for Refined Petroleum Products as against Local Production Based Pricing Template;
“That as long as the pricing of refined petroleum products is based on Importation Pricing Template which is heavily dependent on a volatile foreign exchange rate heavily skewed against the Naira, the price of petrol and other refined petroleum products will continue to rise beyond the reach of average Nigerian workers and citizens; and
“That the foregoing informed the traditional position of the Congress to reject incessant increase in the pump price of petrol which is usually disguised as deregulation or removal of fuel subsidy.
“The NEC, therefore, condemned plans by the Federal Government to increase the pump price of petrol.”
The NLC boss added that the NEC has resolved to reject and resist the planned increase in the pump price of petrol by the Federal Government.
The communique further stated that, “Pursuant to its rejection and resistance of further increase in the price of petrol, to organize Protest Rallies in all the 36 States of the Federation on 27th January 2022 which would culminate in the submission of protest letters to all the 36 State Governors. Subsequently, a National Protest will take place on 1st February 2022 in Abuja; and
“In case government decides to announce new petrol prices before the proposed protests, the protest will kick off instantly and without any other further notice in every state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.”
The NEC also said that plans by the National Assembly and Nigeria Customs Service to introduce excise duties on carbonated drinks manufactured in Nigeria will only exacerbate the prevailing hyper-inflation of essential goods especially food consumables, lead to decline in sales, job losses in the food sub-sector and increased hardship for ordinary Nigerians.”
It stated that “Plans for the privatization of Nigeria’s railways, public healthcare facilities and concession of Nigeria’s major international airports.
“The NEC, therefore, resolved that the executive arm of government at the federal level and the National Assembly should work together with Organized Labour and manufacturers in the sub-sector for a win-win solution;
“That plans to privatize and concession prime national assets would be tantamount to ‘State Capture’ of the commonwealth. The NEC urged government and promoters of the privatization and concession plans to learn from the misadventure of the power sector privatization which instead of improving the lives of the ordinary Nigerian have increased the level of suffering and hardship faced by the Nigerian masses; and
” To Reject the concession of Nigeria’s four major airports and the privatization of Nigeria’s prime national assets including the Transmission Company of Nigeria and other assets billed through legislative actions for privatization.”
