NLC to convene meeting over ‘Clandestine’ petrol price increase; accuses FG of betrayal, threatens strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress on Tuesday criticised the federal government’s decision to increase petrol prices hence called on the federal government to reverse the planned implementation of the increase in price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

In a statement signed by the NLC President Joe Ajaero on Tuesday evening, the labour movement said the action of the federal government was a betrayal.

“We are filled with a deep sense of betrayal as the federal government clandestinely increases the pump price of PMS. One of the reasons for accepting N70,000 as national minimum wage was the understanding that the pump price of PMS would not be increased even as we knew that N70,000 was not sufficient, the statement read.

“But here we are, barely one month after and with the government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, confronted by a reality we cannot explain. It is both traumatic and nightmarish.

It said that it will convene a meeting of its organs in the coming days to respond to the new hike in pump price of petrol.

“In the coming days, the appropriate organs of the congress will be meeting to take appropriate decisions which will be made public”.

NLC in a five point demands on Tuesday, said the various organs of the Union will meet to take further action of the government fails to heed it’s demands

“We demand the immediate reversal of the latest increase in the pump of pms across the country,” NLC said.

The Union also called on the federal government to release of all those incarcerated or being prosecuted on the assumption of having participated in the recent protests.

Other demands include a halt to the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped up charges, reversal of the 250% tariff hike in electricity, as well as a stop to the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The NLC also called for an end to policies that engender hunger and insecurity; as well as a halt to government’s culture of terror, fear and lying.

Recall the Nigerian Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (NNPCL) on Tuesday morning, reportedly directed an increase in its pump price of between ₦568 – ₦617 per litre to ₦855 – ₦897 per litre, depending on the area.

Although, the company had denied issuing the directive, checks at NNPCL retail stations in Abuja reflected the new price of ₦897 per litre

‘We recall vividly when Mr President gave us the devil’s alternatives to choose from: Either N250,000 as minimum wage (subject to the rise of the pump price between N1,500 and N2,000) and N70,000 (at old PMS rates), we opted for the latter because we could not bring ourselves to accept further punishment on Nigerians.

“But here we are, barely one month after and with government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, confronted by a reality we cannot explain.”

The Minister of State, Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has refuted information circulated on social media, which claimed that he directed the NNPC to inflate petroleum prices to N1,000 above the approved pump price.

“We categorically condemn these claims as baseless, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to incite public discontent. We challenge anyone in possession of any evidence-be it written documents, audio, or video recordings that support these fabrications to make it public. Such a claim is entirely devoid of truth and should be recognised as an intentional effort to mislead the public.

“It must be stressed that NNPC operates as an independent entity under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), with a fully empowered Board of Directors. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources does not, and will not, interfere in the internal decisions of NNPC, including pricing matters.

“Any suggestion otherwise is not only incorrect but also reveals a profound misunderstanding of the deregulated nature of Nigeria’s petroleum sector,” a statement signed by the minister’s spokesperson Nneamaka Okafor, stated.

It advised that the minister cannot, and does not, direct NNPC or any other entity within the sector to manipulate prices.