NLC directs workers to prepare for nationwide protest over fuel subsidy removal
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its 36 branches and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to prepare for a nationwide protest if the government goes ahead with its plan to remove fuel subsidy.
The NLC which gave the directive in a communique issued after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Friday in Abuja, warned that labour would not give the government any notice should it go ahead to remove the fuel subsidy before the January 27, 2022 date for the protest.
The communiqué which was signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, and the General Secretary, Emma Ugbaja, stressed that it was also against the government’s plan to introduce excise duties on carbonated drinks manufactured in Nigeria.
According to the NLC, the federal government should also make education from primary to junior secondary school free for every Nigerian child.
The communiqué reads in part: “The NEC considered recommendations made to it by the Central Working Committee.
“Among the recommendations discussed at the meeting include plans by the Federal Government to increase the pump price of petrol in 2022, the soaring inflation of the prices of basic commodities and services, the increasing siege of insecurity in Nigeria.
“Others are the unrelenting push by the Federal Government to privatize and concession many public assets cum enterprises, the demand on Mr. President to sign the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law and the continued refusal of some state governors to implement the National Minimum Wage and also the failure of some employers in the public sector to pay the gratuity of retired workers and remit their pension contributions as when due.”
“The NEC considered that an increase in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as ‘petrol’ by the government will expose Nigerian workers and the generality of the citizenry to acute deprivation, hardship and suffering as it would worsen the already established trend of hyperinflation in the country.
“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.”
