The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has called on the Federal Government to reverse the planned implementation of the increase in price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), a.k.a petrol.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero stated this on Tuesday, in his reaction to the ong-oing speculations that the Nigeria National Petroleum Company limited (NNPCL), has authorised hike in the prices of petrol.
In the same vein, the National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) has announced a nationwide protest, slated for September 15, across major cities in Nigeria to express displeasure over the new pump price announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL).
NLC, in a 5-point demand, said the various organs of the Union will meet to take further action of the government fails to heed its demands. We demand the immediate reversal of the latest increase in the pump of pms across the country, it stated.
The Union also called on the Federal Government to release of all those incarcerated, or being prosecuted on the assumption of having participated in the recent protests. Other demands include a halt to the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped up charges, reversal of the 250% tariff hike in electricity, as well as a stop to the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The NLC also called for an end to policies that engender hunger and insecurity; as well as a halt to governments culture of terror, fear and lying.
“Recall that when Labour told the government that its approach to resolving the fuel subsidy contradictions was patently faulty and would not last, its front row cheer leaders sneered at us, saying we did not understand basic economics”, it stated.
NANS, on its part, made its planned September 15 nationwide protest announcement yesterday, in an issued statement signed by NANS National Senate President, Comrade Henry Okunomo, in Kano. According to the association, The protest, tagged: Fuel Price Hike: A Threat to Our Future, will take place on September 15, 2024, across major cities in Nigeria.
The association issued a clarion call for a nationwide protest against what it described as an egregious act. We demand an immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and a more compassionate approach to governance”. Okunomo stated that NANS is appalled and disheartened by the recent announcement of yet another hike in fuel prices by the NNPC.
NANS also demanded the immediate removal of Mele Kyari as the NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, saying ‘his continued stay in office is an affront to the sensibilities of the Nigerian people and a stark reminder of the governments insensitivity to their plight.
