NLC Commences Indefinite Strike, Peaceful Protest Sept 28
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has said it will commence an indefinite strike and a nationwide peaceful protest, from Monday, September 28, 2020, if the Federal Government fails to reverse the recent hike in the pump price of petrol and electricity tariff, and accede to other ancillary demands of the labour.
It also said it will begin a mass mobilisation of Nigerian people, professional groups, religious organisations, market women, the informal sector and congress civil society allies towards total compliance with the indefinite strike.
These were contained in a communique signed on September 22, 2020 by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and NLC General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja.
The Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, had on September 2, 2020, increased the ex-depot price of the PMS to N151.56 per litre.
The product, however, is currently being sold by marketers between N160 and N162 per litre.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had on August 2020 approved the implementation of cost reflective tariffs which has led to an increase in electricity tariff.
NLC, in the communique, said the petrol price increase, whether perpetrated under the guise of ‘full deregulation’ or ‘removal of fuel subsidy,’ had eroded the gain of the recent increase in national minimum wage as the new petrol price has induced a spiral wave of inflation in the price of goods and services, thus further deepening the misery of Nigerians.
The communique further said that after a careful consideration of the socio-economic realities, especially in light of the hardship they present to the working-class family and Nigerian masses, the NLC National Executive Council after an emergency meeting decided as follows:
“The NEC resolved to reject in its entirety the recent hike in electricity tariff by almost 100 per cent. NEC also unanimously rejected the recent increase in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit and other refined petroleum products. NEC resolved that the price hike is ill-timed and counter-productive especially at this time of COVID-19 induced socio-economic dislocations.
“The NEC resolved that the twain decisions of increase in electricity charges and hike in the pump price of petrol in addition to the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) and bank charges will further impoverish the already impoverished masses of our workers and citizens and impose huge hardship and suffering on many Nigerian families.”
It also stated that the NEC resolved that the privatisation of the power sector seven years ago has not yielded any tangible result and therefore concluded that the entire privatisation of the power sector has failed and has become an avenue for continuous exploitation of Nigerians.
The communique further reads: “On the increase in the pump price of petrol, NEC concluded that whether the hike is perpetrated under the guise of ‘full deregulation’ or ‘removal of fuel subsidy’, what is obvious is that the price hike had eroded the gain of the recent increase in national minimum wage as the new petrol price has induced a spiral wave of inflation in the price of goods and services thus further deepening the misery that Nigerians are going through.
“The NEC therefore resolved that the first response by government to the crisis in our downstream petroleum sector must be to ensure that all our petroleum refineries are working. NEC also resolved that government has business in business since the primary role of government is the welfare and security of citizens.
“In light of the foregoing, NEC resolves to endorse the decision of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the NLC to embark on an indefinite strike action and peaceful protest, to take effect from Monday, 28th September, 2020, if government fails to reverse the recent hike in the pump price of petrol and electricity tariff and accede to other ancillary demands by labour and
“Pursuant to this, the NLC endorsed the decision of the Central Working Committee (CWC) for the NLC to begin a mass mobilisation of the Nigerian people, professional groups, religious organisations, market women, and the informal sector and congress civil society allies towards total compliance to the indefinite strike action.”
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