The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), yesterday, ratified the decision of the congress to embark on a nationwide protest on September 28.
The planned protest was to compel the Federal Government to reverse the recent increase in prices of fuel and electricity tariff.
NEC at the meeting held at Labour House, Abuja, condemned the timing of the increment, and also advised the Federal Government to put the nation’s refineries into operations by revamping them with immediate effect.
Speaking after the NEC, President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, warned that failure to meet the demands would compel workers to go ahead with their protest on the said date.
It would be recalled that the NLC had last Wednesday, after State Working Council (SWC) meeting threatened to shut down the economy if the Federal Government refused to reverse the recent hike in petrol price and electricity tariff on or before September 28.
The threat came after the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had given a seven-day ultimatum to the government to revert back to the old prices of petroleum pump price and the electricity tariff.
Similarly, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, yesterday, disclosed that it would join the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other the civil society allies to execute the nationwide strike which is to commence on September 28.
TUC, after an exhaustive meeting held to review its mobilsation strategies to protest the fuel hike and electricity tariff, resolved that the congress was going to work in collaboration with its sister labour unions.
The TUC President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye, in a statement, said: “Consequent upon this, the ultimatum which should expire by midnight of today 22nd September, 2020, has been shifted to 28th September, 2020 for effective and maximum effect. We want to use this opportunity to call on Nigerians, especially those in the informal sector to bear with us while the industrial action lasts.
“There is no need for the pains we bear. It is a needless one. They ask us to tighten our belts while they loosen theirs. Services are not rendered yet we are compelled to pay estimated bills. You will recall that this government during its electioneering campaigns in 2014 told the world there is nothing like subsidy. We were told that they will build refineries, all that are history now. We run a mono-economy and any hike in fuel automatically will have adverse effect on us yet successive governments tow that path because they are not creative.
“As at today, about eight states are yet to commence the payment of new minimum wage and its consequential adjustment even though the president signed it into law on April 18, 2019. We have written letters to the governors and also engaged them in dialogue but all to no avail. Sometimes, we wonder if these people have conscience at all.
“The congress hereby appeals to all Nigerians to get ready for the unprecedented mass action against corruption, obnoxious policies, rape and other violent offences, breach of Collective Agreement, unemployment, etc. We also call on the USA, UK, Germany, Spain, etc. to support our struggle by placing indefinite VISA ban on our political leaders whose stock in trade is to loot and impoverish the masses and the country. We can no longer take it. Enough is Enough.”