The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its displeasure over Federal Government’s plan to increase the fuel price to N97 from N87 per litter as from next year.
The labour union in a statement issued through its National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba at a symposium to mark 10th anniversary of Comrade Chuma Ubani’s death on Wednesday, disclosed that it has started mobilising its relevant organs, civil society groups, organisations and professional bodies to protest the planned fuel price hike.
NLC’s renewed stand-off follows disclosure by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, at the National Assembly that the government might change the price of petrol and gradually remove fuel subsidy.
In response, NLC accused the minister of being an agent of those who were working to undermine President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration over his constant insistence on the removal of subsidy on petroleum products.
The NLC boss warned President Buhari to be wary of the danger of the controversial proposals by Kachikwu. “The NLC wishes to state without equivocation that Kachikwu represents the same forces that have misled past government on the issue of removal of subsidy and deregulation of the downstream operations of the petroleum industry.
“While the position of congress on these issues clearly remains unchanged, we make bold to however caution President Buhari to be wary of the likes of Kachikwu, whose sweet tongues on the issue of subsidy removal had derailed former Presidents from achieving their lofty goals.
“Now that the Buhari government may have, through Kachikwu, sent the message to Nigerians on the path it wishes to take on the issue of petroleum subsidy, congress will meet its relevant organs, hold consultations with civil society and other organisations and professional bodies and carry out the instruction as we will be mandated.”
By Olisemeka Obeche