By Williams Anuku, Abuja
The National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has ratified the decision of the Congress to commence a nationwide strike on September 28 to protest the recent increases in pump price and electricity tariffs.
The protest which might ground the entire country is geared towards compelling the Federal Government to reverse the increase in prices of fuel and electricity tariff.
Beyond this, NEC which condemned the timing of the increment, also advised the Federal Government to put the nation’s refineries into operations by revamping them with immediate effect.
President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba who spoke on behalf of the Union on Tuesday, in Abuja, said failure to meet these demands would compel workers to go ahead with their protest and shut down the economy on the said date.
Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had threatened to shut down the economy if the federal government refuses to reverse the recent hike in petrol price and electricity tariff within 14 days.
Recall also that electricity distribution companies had hiked their tariffs from about N30.23 to about N62.33 per kWh for Nigerians after the federal government said it would no longer subsidise electricity consumption.
Also, the price of petrol increased from about N145 to about N161 per litre.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and civil societies had also corroborated NLC by pledging to join the protest.
In an effort to resolve these issues, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the Minister of Labour and Employment to hold a meeting between the federal government, labour unions and the CSOs.
Meanwhile, TUC after an exhaustive meeting held to review its mobilsation strategies on the forthcoming strike, resolved that the Congress is going to work in collaboration with its sister Labour Centre, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Civil Society allies to execute the strike.
Consequent upon this, its own ultimatum which should have expired by midnight of today September 22 has been shifted to September 28 for effective and maximum effect.
“We want to use this opportunity to call on Nigerians, especially those in the informal sector to bear with us while the industrial action lasts.”
TUC President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye, in a communique issued after their NEC meeting, said, “there is no need for the pains we bear. It is a needless one. They ask us to tighten our belts while they loosen theirs. Services are not rendered yet we are compelled to pay estimated bills. You will recall that this government during its electioneering campaigns in 2014 told the world there is nothing like subsidy. We were told that they will build refineries, all that are history now. We run a mono economy and any hike in fuel automatically will have adverse effect on us yet successive government tow that path because they are not creative.
“As at today, about eight states are yet to commence the payment of new minimum wage and its consequential adjustment even though the president signed it into law on April 18, 2019. We have written letters to the governors and also engaged them in dialogue but all to no avail. Sometimes we wonder if these people have conscience at all.
“The Congress hereby appeals to all Nigerians to get ready for the unprecedented mass action against corruption, obnoxious policies, rape and other violent offences, breach of Collective Agreement, unemployment, etc. We also call on the USA, UK, Germany, Spain, etc. to support our struggle by placing indefinite VISA ban on our political leaders whose stock in trade is to loot and impoverish the masses and the country. We can no longer take it. Enough is Enough!