The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for an immediate reversal of the recent increase in petrol prices announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The NLC described the price hike as a betrayal by the Federal Government and emphasized the need to protect the interests of Nigerian workers and citizens.
In response to the petrol price increase, the NLC emphasized that it is critical for the government to prioritize the welfare of Nigerians, particularly amidst the current economic challenges. NLC President Joe Ajaero stated that the organization feels betrayed by the clandestine increases in fuel prices and stressed the need for transparency in decision-making processes that impact the lives of Nigerians.
PUNCH
[…] Organised Labour and stakeholders have slammed the Federal Government following the new pump price regime of Premium Motor Spirit introduced on Tuesday by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited.
This was even as major opposition parties in the country urged the President Bola Tinubu administration to sack the management of the NNPCL.
They made the appeal in separate interviews with The PUNCH on Tuesday.
Our correspondent, who monitored the long queues across filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory, observed that the pump prices had jumped to between N900 and N970 per litre.
Reacting to the development, the Nigeria Labour Congress has tagged President Bola Tinubu as a betrayer following the astronomical hike in fuel price.
The NLC expressed shock in a statement signed by its president, Joe Ajaero, which was made available to The PUNCH in Abuja on Wednesday.
“We are filled with a deep sense of betrayal as the Federal Government clandestinely increases the pump price of PMS. One of the reasons for accepting N70,000 as national minimum wage was the understanding that the pump price of PMS would not be increased even as we knew that N70,000 was not sufficient,” the Ajaero said.
Among other things, the Congress demanded an immediate reversal of the pump price, release of incarcerated protesters and reversal of the 250 per cent hike in electricity tariff.
“In the coming days, the appropriate organs of the Congress will be meeting to take appropriate decisions which will be made public,” he assured.
The Executive Director of the Rule of Law Accountability and Advocacy Centre, Okechukwu Nwaguma, also described the hike in pump prices as “alarming”, adding that the increase will exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis, and affect transportation costs, food prices, and overall inflation.
He accused the government of taking “anti-people” measures despite public outcry, stating that it was critical for the government to address the root causes of the economic challenges.
“The significant price variations across different regions, with some stations charging as high as N970, highlight disparities in access and affordability, disproportionately affecting lower-income households.
“The government continues to take anti people measures in utter contempt of the public’s outcry, which reflects widespread dissatisfaction and frustration with the government’s management of the economy. Citizens are left to bear the brunt of policy decisions without adequate support or relief measures”.
“It is critical for the government to address the root causes of these economic challenges, tackle corruption, minimise waste, show responsibility, sensitivity and compassion in their own lifestyles ,and implement measures that cushion the impact on citizens, such as subsidies or social support programs”, he said.
The National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement and organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the movement was not surprised at the price hike, noting that the President had ignored protesters’ demands during the August 1-10 anti-hunger protests.
“The reason we have called for an October 1 nationwide protest is largely because President Tinubu in his media broadcast on August 4th, completely ignored protest demands. Rather he went on gaslighting protesters and didn’t even justify the repression against protests”.
“So we are not surprised that we are having a situation where the government, or the NNPC you may say, have increased the price of fuel, which is directly opposite to the demands of the protests, which was calling for the reversal of the price of fuel to what it was before May 29, 2023”, Sanyaolu said.
He said the TIB will again mobilise Nigerians to protest on the 1st of October, adding that the government had ample time to reverse the pump prices and grant their demands before the date.
“Obviously we are rejecting this increment pump price, and to resist this, Nigerians will be mobilised to the streets once again on the 1st of October this year. And of course, the government has a lot of time between now and the 1st of October to immediately address not just the reversal of the increased pump price, but also the entire demands of the protesters”.
‘No solution’
Reacting, the National Secretary of New Nigeria People’s Party, Dipo Olaoyoku, expressed disappointment in the current administration, saying it has squandered the hope of the masses.
Olaoyoku reiterated that it was high time the Tinubu administration swallowed his ego and seek for help to rescue the country from falling into total collapse.
He said, “I have been buying fuel in Lagos for N949 before now. It is now very clear that the present government has no solution to the problem of energy, especially petroleum products. In 2012, the same people in government protested during the time of Goodluck Jonathan when he increased fuel from N87 to N145. They sponsored what was called ‘Occupy Nigeria’ that almost brought that government down.
“As of today, the petrol selling at N855 is not even available for Nigerians to buy. When situation gets to this stage, it becomes worrisome. It is high time this government buried its ego and look elsewhere for people who can help them. It is now glaring that the problems of Nigeria is too much for this government. From energy, petrol, electricity, insecurity to foodstuff prices, the list is endless.
“It is no longer a matter of opposition wanting to take over the government. The opposition wants to help. But the ego of ‘We know it all’ won’t allow this government to acknowledge it. It is now very clear these people have no solution to the problems of this country. They still have three more years to go. So they should open their doors for people to advise them accordingly because the suffering is too much for Nigerians to continue bearing.”
‘Sack NNPCL now’
The National Secretary of the Labour Party, Umar Farouk, also shared the same sentiment.
While expressing disappointment, Farouk beckoned on the president to sack the board and management of the NNPCL to give way to people with fresh ideas.
“It is quite unfortunate we are facing this kind of situation. It is also sad that the NNPCL has not always been sincere and truthful to Nigerians about the situation of things. Today, the corporation will say they are not indebted to anybody and that subsidy is gone. Tomorrow, they will say another thing entirely.
“The present leadership of the NNPCL should not be allowed to remain in office. If the government wants to be taken seriously, it should sack all the officials of the corporation and engage fresh people for Nigerians to feel the impact of the new regime. It is one thing to increase the pump price and another thing not to make the product available to the people.
“How can they be visiting multiple problems on the masses just because of the inefficiency and incompetence of people in charge of the NNPCL? We are therefore calling on the government to dissolve the board and management of the corporation.”
‘Hike ridiculous’
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Coalition of United Political Parties have criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the Federal Government, denouncing the fuel price increase as heartless and reprehensible.
PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, called on Nigerians to unite and not to despair.
He said, “It is an embarrassing development in the face of unprecedented and excruciating economic woes. Nigeria’s resilience has been exhausted to its rubicon.
“We have finally reached the breaking point with rooftop inflation, frightening insecurity, and pervading hopelessness in the land. Nigerians must rise in unison to put an end to this despair and apparent slide to dictatorship.
“The rise in price hike in PMS, just like other necessities, is callous, primitive and condemnable.”
CUPP National Secretary, Peter Ameh, on the other hand, urged President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress-led administration to address corruption in the oil sector rather than arbitrarily raising fuel prices.
Ameh expressed concerns that ordinary Nigerians cannot continue to endure hardship while their leaders live in luxury.
“It is a criminal arrangement. They cannot continue to make Nigerians suffer. There is no subsidy on electricity, there is a high interest rate, and now Nigerians cannot move around peacefully. Why do you increase fuel prices arbitrarily, without any consultation?
“This increase will affect inflation, the cost of food and services, and people will now begin to scramble to survive. This President Tinubu government has shown so much insensitivity to the plight of our people.
“Instead of increasing prices, they should address the corruption in the oil industry so that Nigeria can breathe. There is corruption in the oil industry.
“So for us the increasmnet is unacceptable, unjustifiable and it is totally condemnable. We cannot accept this continuous arbitrary increasmnet in price of fuel,” he stated.
Nigerians react
Meanwhile angry Nigerians took to the internet to vent their frustrations following the new price hike.
Popular singer Joeboy stated on X (formerly Twitter), “We’re an oil-producing nation with fuel scarcity. Nigeria is unbelievable.”
Another X user #Seriousist added, “Nigerians finished protesting, and after seeing how weak the protest was, President Tinubu hit them with another fuel price increase for wasting his time.”
Tomi, with the username #tomiwebstr, expressed bitterness following the latest hike, saying it would make life even harder.
“Fuel is likely to stabilise at N1300-1500 per litre. The dollar has stayed above N1600, electricity is now unaffordable, and food? It’s a whole other issue. And when you try to complain, they accuse you of treason. I’m exhausted.”
“Nigeria is learning a tough lesson, and only God can save this country from the cold grip of APC,” Moses Emeka commented on Instagram.
Oluwabukolami Agboola prayed for God’s intervention amid the hike.
“You all have done enough; it’s time for God to intervene. This is too much,” she stated on Facebook.
Iorwuese Geshi believes that if Nigerians weren’t peaceful people, the fuel price increase would have triggered severe repercussions.
“In other places, no one would have had to tell Tinubu that there’s a problem,” Geshi wrote.
A frustrated John Odey stated, “Will there ever be a day when we wake up to the news of a significant price drop for anything in this country? Just one day?”
“Nigeria is the only country that’s giving God a headache,” Ezekiel Emmanuel jokingly remarked.
David Jacob expressed his disappointment saying, “They keep intimidating Nigerians, and yet some still support this ruthless government. They’ve monopolized Dangote fuel to profit from it, making life difficult for Nigerians. The scripture says, ‘The wickedness of the wicked shall be upon them.’”
