The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has requested that the federal government put plans to raise energy tariffs in the country on hold.
The NLC, in a statement issued by its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said the decision to raise energy tariffs by 40 percent on July 1st is both insensitive and cruel, reflecting an organized disregard for the well-being of consumers, particularly the poor.
NLC via a statement said “The massive increase is explained away as a response to the over 100 per cent increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS).
“Details reveal a movement in inflation from 16.9% to 22.41 (threatening to needle 30), and a shift in exchange rate from N441 to N750.
“We believe not even these figures are a justification for this reckless proposed tariff increase.
“The issue of capacity to pay and quality of service delivery are not only germane but superior to any rationalisation by market logic.
“The service providers in spite of sundry support have not been able to meet the threshold of 5000 megawatts.
“Coupled with this, there have been surreptitious increases without notice in violation of statutes.
“The inherent risk in the new regime of tariff is that there is no control, implying that by August, consumers will pay new rates.
“The other risk is that by the time other product or service-rendering entities come up with their new prices or rates, the ordinary person would have been compacted into dust.
“We would want to advise apostles of the Market who have called NLC all sorts of names to check their conscience.
“The rate at which they are going is highly combative and combustible. With contemplation of payment of school fees in tertiary institutions and increases in privately-owned ones in addition to other costs/tariffs on the way, life in Nigeria could truly be Hobbesian,” the statement partly read.
According to the NLC, the market economies that Market Fundamentalists aim to replicate have socioeconomic safeguards in place that we do not have, and as a result, the proposed rate hike should be shelved for Nigerians’ collective safety.
