The nation waits on the Nigeria Labour Congress’s decision as it meets to deliberate on the increase in fuel prices and electricity tariffs in the country.
The Trade Union Congress, however, has taken its stand, issuing the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to back down on the price hike.
The association has also insisted that it would not go into talks with the Federal government until the fuel and electricity prices have been overturned.
Quadri Olaleye, the President of the TUC, said, “We think the Federal Government is speaking to us now and not speaking with us. If the government wants to engage us, it ought to have called for a meeting where issues would be looked at dispassionately and positions arrived at. Why would the government think increment would automatically lead to an improvement in electricity to Nigerians? This latest increment is the fifth since the power sector was privatized. Did that lead to the improved power supply? In fact, each increase shows the power sector might have been hijacked.”
Olaleye is of the opinion that the monopoly of the private sector is key to the present predicament, and government should look into other policy options.
