The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has
rejected the increase in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol from N148. 50 per liter to N151.56 per litre.
NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, voiced Labour’s rejection of the increase in the price of petrol on Wednesday in Abuja.
Recall that the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) had in a statement announced the new product price adjustment saying it took effect from Sept. 2.
Recall also that on Aug. 5, the price of petrol was increase from N143.50 to N148.50 per liter.
Some filling stations in Abuja have already started selling petrol for N161 per litre as at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to Wabba, Nigerians and even the NLC are shocked about the increase and this increase is coming at a time when many Nigerians are passing through very peculiar and precarious times.
“It is like Nigerians are being taken for a ride, the increase in price of petroleum is like adding salt to injury.
“The increase in price of petroleum has happened now more than three times in three months, only yesterday they hiked the tariff of electricity,” he said.
The NLC president said that to compound the issue, the CBN also reduced the interest rate of savings which affects mostly the poor and the vulnerable.
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“The organised labour therefore rejects the increase in price of the product in the strongest terms.”
According to him, at the end of the day, Nigerians are becoming poorer and poorer, in fact many people are already on the edge. Many workers are already on the edged.
“Certainly, we cannot guarantee industrial peace and harmony, and we will have to call our organs and we will have to also react but we reject it in its entirety.
“They have betrayed the trust of Nigerians, for Nigerians to be protected against the economic challenge that is affecting us,” he said,