Ahead of 2022, The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) plans to hold a national protest on Feb. 1, against the Federal Government decision to remove fuel subsidy.
This was contained in a communique issued on Friday in Abuja and signed by NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba and General Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja.
According to NLC, before the national protest, the labour union would hold protest rallies in all the 36 states of the country on Jan. 27, against the subsidy removal.
The communique noted that the removal of the fuel subsidy would expose Nigerian workers and the citizenry to acute deprivation and worsen the hyper-inflation trend in the country.
“The NEC, therefore, resolved to reject and resist the planned increase in the pump price of petrol by the Federal Government, as it is extremely insensitive to the acute hardship being experienced by Nigerian workers and people.
”Pursuant to its rejection and resistance of further increase in the price of petrol, to organise protest rallies in all the 36 States of the Federation on Jan. 27, 2022.
“This would culminate in the submission of protest letters to all the 36 State Governors. Subsequently, a National Protest will take place on Feb. 1, 2022 in Abuja.
“In case government decides to announce new petrol prices before the proposed protests, the protest will kick-off instantly and without any other further notice in every state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory,” it added.
The NLC asked the Federal Government to promote local capacity to refine petroleum products for domestic use.
NLC called on the government to adopt effective economic policies to stop the trend of hyper-inflation in the prices of basic goods and services.
The inflation alone, according to the NLC, has put additional pressure on the lean income of Nigerian workers and other citizens and made life terribly unbearable for the poor.
The NLC also called for the adaptation of a multi-stakeholder approach and innovative non-kinetic intervention model towards achieving sustainable solution to the insecurity challenges.
It expressed concern over the plan by the National Assembly and Nigeria Customs Service to introduce excise duties on carbonated drinks manufactured in Nigeria.
“Such plans will only exacerbate the prevailing hyper-inflation of essential goods especially food consumables, lead to decline in sales, job losses in the food sub-sector and increased hardship for ordinary Nigerians.
”Plans for the privatisation of Nigeria’s railways, public healthcare facilities and concession of Nigeria’s major international airports.
”The NEC, therefore, resolved that the executive arm of government at the federal level and the National Assembly should work together with Organized Labour and manufacturers in the sub-sector for a win-win solution.
”The NEC urges government and promoters of the privatisation and concession plans to learn from the misadventure of the power sector privatisation which instead of improving the lives of the ordinary Nigerian have increased the level of suffering and hardship faced by the Nigerian masses.”
