Nigeria Labour Congress Rejects Increase In Fuel Price, Appeals Adjustment

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the current surge in the prices of fuel on Monday evening, asking its reversal with immediate effect. <br /><br />The congress condemned the increase, saying the price increase will actually create more economic hardship especially among lower- paid workers.<br /><br />In a statement signed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the congress noted that it would receive an update from its affiliates who were members of various committees set up after the last round of negotiations with the Federal Government.<br /><br />“The outcome of this engagement will determine our response in the coming days. But while we are at that, we condemn the recent price increase and we call for its reversal with immediate effect,” Wabba said.<br /><br />The statement read: “There is no doubt that there is great disquiet in the land over the extraordinary level of inflation in the country. The recent increase in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has only exacerbated the current level of pain and anguish in the country. The recent increase in the pump price of PMS is clearly against the spirit and content of what organized labour agreed with government at the last negotiations over the last fuel price increase.<br /><br />“It has also cast in very bad light our utmost good faith with regards to government explanations that it lacks funds to continue bankrolling the so-called subsidy payments as such would sooner than later cripple the entire economy, throw the country into severe economic crisis and cause loss of jobs in millions.<br /><br />“While we await the full recovery of our refineries as contained in our agreement with the government, Nigerians cannot be made to bleed endlessly for the failures of successive government to properly manage our refineries, ensure value for money for the numerous Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) which were poorly and barely executed and the horrifying lack of interest in prosecuting public officials and private business people who have