The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Thursday night, told the Federal Government to stop the fuel scarcity immediately, describing the development as “a clear conspiracy on the part of government to force another price hike on Nigerians.”
In a statement signed by the acting president of the NLC, Joe Ajaero and the acting general secretary, Olusegun Rotimi, the congress said fuel scarcity and hike in price would surely deepen the economic hardships the current official price had unleashed on the people.
“The NLC observes that for almost two months now, there has been a consistent scarcity of petroleum products in all parts of the country without any cogent explanation from government.
“In several fuel stations across the country, prices of petrol in particular are higher than the official pump price without any control by government.
“The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, is responsible for inspection and control of fuel stations and has not acted in anyway against unilateral price increases by marketers.
“For us, this indicates a clear conspiracy on the part of government to force another price hike on Nigerians. This will surely deepen the economic hardships the current official price has unleashed on our people,” the statement read.
It added that the NLC would not accept any further price increase, adding that it would mobilise workers and their allies against any such increase.
“We urge the Federal Government to fulfill its responsibility to the Nigerian people by taking urgent steps to restore normal supplies,” the statement added.
The labour union said “the poverty level in Nigeria has increased and nothing is being done by government to reverse our collective sufferings.
“The January mass protests and strike will be a child’s play should government hide under the guise of the current scarcity to increase the pump price of petroleum products. It is the responsibility of government to ensure and guarantee the welfare of every citizen.
“Should the appropriate agencies of government refuse to enforce compliance with the official pump prices of petroleum products, the NLC will not hesitate to mobilise workers across the country to picket stations selling above the official prices.”
The Tribune
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