The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rebuffed all entreaties to suspend its planned nationwide strike slated for Wednesday, June 7, over the removal of petrol subsidy by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that the president had had in his inaugural speech on May 29 said the fuel subsidy regime had ended with the commencement of his administration.
Thereafter, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited released a new price template which pushed the pump price to N448 and N550 per litre in some states from an average of N189 before the announcement.
Speaking in an interview, the NLC president, Mr. Joe Ajaero who boycotted the meeting with the federal government delegation held at the presidential villa, yesterday, said he was not open to any negotiation unless the government reverted to the old price.
“We have boycotted the meeting until they revert. There is no point meeting with people who do not have the mandate when what they are doing is illegal, because the Appropriation Act of 2023 has not been obeyed, which makes provision for subsidy till the end of June.
“So, we cannot sit to negotiate. Let them revert so that we all can freely negotiate over the issues raised. In our meeting with them last Wednesday, we asked them to revert. NNPC acknowledged that the high rate was not official, but how come they adjusted pump meters across the federation? It was a negotiation not based on good faith.
“The congress decided that if by Wednesday, the NNPCL, which illegally announced a price regime in the oil sector, refuses to reverse itself for negotiation to continue, the NLC and all its affiliates will withdraw their services and commence protests nationwide until this is complied with,” he said.
To carry out the plan, the NLC has directed its state councils and affiliates to ensure full mobilisation of workers and civil society allies among others for a total shutdown of the country should the federal government refuse to revert the pre-May 29 price of petrol.
In a letter entitled: ‘Notice on mobilisation for nationwide withdrawal of service’ issued by the general secretary of the NLC, Mr. Emma Ugboaja, the union said: “We bring you greetings from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“You will recall that arising from the National Executive Council meeting held on 2nd June 2023, it was decided that congress will embark on a nationwide action and withdrawal of services, against the fraudulent increase in the price of fuel across the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the FCT.
“Please, be informed that the nationwide action will commence on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
“To this effect, we request that all state chairpersons should mobilise workers for the action and ensure full compliance with the directives as services in both the public and private sectors are expected to be fully withdrawn by Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
“All state chairpersons are expected to fully abide by the decisions of the national executive council.”
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has said that the NNPC does not have the right to set the price of petrol at the pump.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television, Falana contended that only the federal government has the authority to fix the product’s price.
He stated that since the current administration was yet to appointed a minister of petroleum, Tinubu is now in charge of carrying out that duty.
“The NNPC has metamorphosed into a limited liability company. It is now NNPC Limited. To that extent, NNPC like Total, Exxon Mobil, and Shell operating in the oil industry, cannot announce an increase in the prices of petroleum products. That duty is vested in the government and that is what I mean [saying their action is illegal],” Falana said, citing a Federal High Court, Abuja judgement that says only the government can fix the prices of petroleum products.
“So, you ask the NNPCL: ‘Where have you got the powers to fix the prices of petroleum products, or the price of petrol, this time around, from N185 thereabouts to N540?’ So, how? The clarification is important.
“Under the current situation, we have found ourselves – since ministers have not been appointed and the President is running the country – only the president (Tinubu) can so decide for now because you have the Price Control Act. You have the PIA,” he said.
He also stated that without making the four refineries work before removing the subsidy smacks of ineptitude.
“There is no provision in our law for market forces to determine the prices of any product in the country.
“So, doing away with subsidy without you refining after 30 years or more suggests incompetence,” he added.
“Anything above the current price without a concrete plan for refineries to kick start would make the country ‘unwise’ before the world,” he added.
