Revert to old pump price or we will begin a total strike on Wednesday May 18th'- NLC threatens FG

The Nigeria Labor Congress, NLC, and its affiliates which includes the Trade Union Congress, TUC, have given the Federal government a 96-hours ultimatum to revert to the old pump price of N86.50 or face a total strike that will begin on Wednesday May 18th.

At a meeting held in Abuja today, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said if the government failed to revert to the old price and stop the deregulation of the oil sector by midnight of Tuesday May 17th, the workers would have no option than to embark on a total strike by Wednesday May 18th.

“Since there has not been any increase in salaries, wages or pensions of workers in the past five years, and in the face of devaluations, spiraling inflation and other vagaries of the economy, the increase in fuel price is unrealistic, unaffordable, unacceptable, and is thus rejected. It is evident that the neo-liberal forces in the government have taken over, and we should expect more inhumane policies which will further degrade the living standard of the average Nigerian. The punitive electricity tariff and PMS product prices may just be teasers. The price hike from N86:50 to N145, representing 67.63% increase, is the height of insensitivity and impunity as there was no previous consultation with stake holders, especially the organized labour, or any justification for this reckless decision other than the fact that government believes it is accountable to no one"he said