Tariff Hike/PMS increase: No Going Back on 28 Sept Strike/Protest, Says Labour

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has vowed to shut down Nigeria economy beginning from September 28, 2020 to protest the excruciating suffering brought on Nigerians by the federal government through increased in pump price of petroleum and electricity tariff.

The two labour centres and their civil society groups had earlier issued ultimatum to government to revert the recent increased in price of petroleum products and electricity tariff or face industrial action.

TUC 7 days ultimatum is expiring night today 22 September 2020, but will be moved forward to 28 September 2020, the same day NLC action is commencing.

Briefing Labour Correspondents in Pascal Badyau Labour House, at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said “it is ill timing for government to deregulate the downstream sector of Nigerian economy, a time Nigerians need palliatives due to effect of Covid-19.

According to him, NEC adopted the decision of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the congress directing workers to proceed on an indefinite strike and a peaceful protest nationwide on 28 September 2020 to insist government reverses her decision on the increased.

He said the NEC of Congress condemned the timing of the increment and advised Federal Government to put the nation’s refineries into operations by revamping them with immediate effect.

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.

Also 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. 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.

Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) in her separate statement said after an exhaustive meeting held to review its mobilsation strategies on the forthcoming strike to protest fuel hike and electricity tariff 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, the ultimatum which should expire by midnight of today 22nd September, 2020 has been shifted to 28th September, 2020 for effective and maximum effect.

The TUC statement which was jointly signed by the President Comrade Quadri Olaleye and General Secretary Comrade Musa Lawal said “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.

“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!

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”.