The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) called President Bola Tinubu on Friday to order the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to reinstate the original pump rates of Premium Motor Spirit, or petrol, or face industrial action.
The NLC has given the NNPC till Wednesday to return to the original price of N194 per litre, or its members will be forced to leave their job posts.
The labour union has urged all of its affiliate unions and state councils to begin mobilization in the event that the government, via the NNPCL, refuses to return to the old pump price of PMS.
After its extended National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, highlighted with regret that NNPC on Wednesday increased PMS pump rates by more over 200 percent, raising the price of fuel to between N488 and N557 per litre.
Ajaero stated that following a unanimous agreement by all NLC affiliates, unions were directed to mobilize immediately ahead of the planned nationwide protest.
According to him, “The NLC decided that if by Wednesday next week the NNPCL, a private limited liability company, that illegally announced a price regime in the oil sector, refuses to announce revert itself for negotiation to continue, that the NLC and all its affiliates, will withdraw their services and commence protests nationwide until this is complied with.
“The NNPCL doesn’t have the monopoly to act illegally even as a private company. The NLC NEC therefore directed all state councils and all industrial unions to commence mobilisation from this moment to make sure that this action is enforced. The action has commenced at this moment.”
He also demanded an investigation into the subsidy regime during the last eight years, the amount paid in subsidies, and the recipients of the payments.
The NLC leader also urged the NNPCL to keep accurate records on the amount of petroleum products Nigerians consume on a daily basis.
He accused the NNPCL of refusing to divulge subsidy recipients and petroleum product landing costs.
He said: “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is calling for a thorough probe in the process of subsidy to know those involved and the amount involved. Investigate it properly before it is swept under the carpet.
“The current attempt to sweep the fraudulent practices in the subsidy regime should not be tolerated by all well-meaning Nigerians.”
