The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC says it will resist every attempt by the Federal Government to further increase electricity tariff and pump price of premium motor spirit, PMS, popularly called petrol.
In an elaborate New Year message to welcome Nigerians into 2022, NLC warns that there is a limit to the imposition of hardship and sufferings, with prices of goods and services skyrocking in 2021 as market forces run over anti-people policies of government.
Organised labour says the planned increase in fuel price dubbed as “removal of petrol subsidy” is a transfer of government’s failure as it is a shame that Nigeria remains the only OPEC country not refining her own crude oil.
Organised labour notes that the Technical Committee set up between it and government on fuel and electricity prices has been abandoned with further negotiations adjourned indefinitely. This development the NLC compares with the way the country’s four refineries have grounded to a halt.
Organised labour also describes the idea of paying N5,000 transport allowance to poor Nigerians as “senseless”, since the amount is higher than the current subsidy payment.
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On the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, the Organised Labour says based on agitations over the document, it shows it has not sufficiently addressed the concerns of a section of the country.
On the N30,000 National Minimum Wage signed into law in 2019, Organised Labour has comnended the South-West states, but calls for industrial action in Zamfara State which lags behind among the North-West states; Taraba State in the North-East, Benue and Kogi States in North-Central, Cross River in South-South and Abia and Imo States which remain thorn in the flesh of workers in the South-East.
On pensions payment, Organised Labour has also called out some states but it commends Kebbi and Jigawa in North-West, Borno in the North-East, Kwara, Niger and Plateau in North-Central, Lagos and Oyo States in South-West, Anambra State in the South-East, and all states in South-South, except Cross River that is defaulting in gratuities.
Organised Labour while condemning the spate of insecurity across the country, expressed concerns over comments credited to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC that 2023 general elections might not take place due to insecurity.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
