By; ISAAC ODEH, Kaduna
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has hailed the by the federal government for suspending its earlier planned increase fuel pump price increase which would have resulted from the proposed total subsidy removal, describing it as a step in the right direction.
The Chairman, NLC Kaduna, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleimanexpressed this during a press conference held at the labour secretariat in Kaduna.
Also addressing the press, a national officer, Comrade Bello Ismail who was in Kaduna said that grey areas have been resolved as removal of petrol subsidywould push the pump price of fuel to between N320 and N340 perlitre which is not in the best interest of Nigerians.
“It has been suspended by the federal government,” he declared.
He explained that earlier, on November 23, 2021, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning at the launch of the World Bank Development Update,disclosed to Nigerians government’s plans to remove subsidy on the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as petrol.
According to the statement of 25th, January, 2021, jointly signed by the NLC National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja respectively, “Immediately, the Minister of Finance unveiled government’s plans onpetrol price increment, the Nigeria Labour Congress issued a pressstatement on November 24, 2021 condemning the proposedgovernment policy and warned of the dire consequences that wouldfollow the implementation of the policy.
“The Congress went on to convene national organ meetings to deliberate on the issue.
“After series of statutory organ meetings culminating in a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which took place on the 17th of December 2021, the Nigeria Labour Congress renewed its traditional position of resisting incessant increases in the pump price of petrol.
“The NEC went ahead to give directives for the mobilization of workers and citizens for national protests if the Federal Government fails to reverse the planned hike in the pump price of petrol.
“At the peak of very rigorous mobilization of Nigerians by the Nigeria Labour Congress and a host of her Civil Society allies, the government through the Minister of Finance yesterday, 24th January 2022, made a public announcement reversing the plans to increase petrol pumpprice.
“The position of the government was also officially communicated to the Congress with calls for further engagement.Following the reversal and reapproach by government, the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress had an emergency virtual meeting this morning to consider the new position of the government.
“After vigorous debates, the NEC decided to suspend the planned nationwide protest scheduled for 27th January 2022 and thenational protest in Abuja scheduled for 2nd February 2022. With the above development, the leadership of the Congress has communicated this organdecision to our civil society allies who have stood stoically behind Nigerian workers in our quest for social and economic justice for workers and the downtrodden people of our country.
“Going forward, we will continue to engage with the government on the very critical issues of ensuring local refining of petroleum, creation of sustainable jobs and provision of petrol at an affordableprice for Nigerian workers and people,”the statement added.
As to what the reaction of labour would be if peradventure the federal government goes back on its words, the labour said,”That Labour in Kaduna felt it necessary to call on people in the state to brief them on why they are suspending their protest meant to take off tomorrow, 27th January, 2022 but since the national body and government has reached agreement, the protest will no longer hold.”
Labour he said, is hoping and trusting government to respect the agreement.
“However, labour is not going to sleep they are watching as events unfold and would take action whenever the need arises,” he assured.
It would be recalled that the Kaduna NLC was mobilizing for a three million man march in protest of the proposed fuel price increase before the federal government suspended the moves.
