The Nigeria Labour Congress has raised serious concerns over the recent increase in the pump prices of petrol, formally known as Premium Motor Spirit, says the surge could lead to a food crisis and has described it as an extreme display of insensitivity by the federal government toward the plight of the masses.
The Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Lagos State, Sessi Funmi, accused oil marketers of being major contributors to Nigeria’s economic challenges, describing them as “enemies of the masses.”
However, the oil marketers have refuted being blamed for the recent nationwide petrol price hike which rose from N1,050 to N1,150 per litre on Friday. Also, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery disclosed that the rise was not from the $20bn Lekki-based plant but due to an increase in the cost of crude oil, which is the major component for refined petroleum products.
Consequently, the senior officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress have reacted to the development, describing the action of the federal government as the height of insensitivity to the struggles of the everyday citizen, adding that in a sane country, such decision to increase the price would have been deliberated in a round table to forecast on the effect it could pose to the masses.
The Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission, Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku reacting to the situation which he described as “Tinubunomics” recounted different bodies and representative that ought to have being part of the decision making if indeed President Tinubu is running an inclusive government as claimed. Adding that he should borrow the template of former leaders like Olusegun Obasanjo, who he alleged, held a monthly roundtable with stakeholders whenever sensitive issues that pertains workers’ welfare were being discussed.
He said “This pump price hike will not only affect foodstuff and fare. There is the problem of inflation and the value of naira to contend with. Instead, what we are seeing is a situation we call Tinubunomics. It is something that has not been tested.
“When you talk about subsidies, is there a country that doesn’t have it? It’s all over the world. Even most of the goods you see in this country from China are subsidised. You are refusing to subsidise fuel and also refusing to even facilitate the so-called CNG buses. How many years does it take to do something like this?
“If you know the kind of game we (the NLC) and them are playing on this CNG thing. Now, they are not even involving the people in the so-called CNG conversion. If you promise to run an inclusive government, It’s not just you that should be doing the talking. Yet, when somebody talks, they send attack dogs to attack and label him a member of the Obidient movement.” he said.
However, Sessi Funmi, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Lagos State have insisted that the oil marketers are responsible for the hike. He said, “How can marketers be telling us that an increase in crude oil prices automatically translates to higher prices for the finished product? Are they buying crude oil? No! They buy the finished product.”
