As Nigerians lament the latest increase in the price of petrol, there is also an ongoing tango between the federal government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the turn of events, which has added to the hardship in the country.
The NLC, in an immediate reaction, asked the federal government to reverse the price to the N617 it was before the current hike, according to a statement by its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero. It also stated that the government’s recent action runs contrary to the agreement it reached with the union.
But this does not appear likely, as days after, the government is yet to reverse the hike in fuel price, just as it has failed to provide any explanation on the situation.
Twenty-four hours to when the Dangote Group indicated it was set to roll out products after years of wait, the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was adjusted upwards by the retailers, effectively putting pump prices at around N950 to as much as N1,400 in some parts of the country.
From that point onwards, the entire country was thrown into a cesspool of confusion as fuel queues, which have lasted over six weeks, worsened with many filling stations shut down.
With neither the NNPCL nor the regulatory agencies willing to offer Nigerians any meaningful explanation, prices have remained high amidst denial by the NNPCL that it had ordered an upward price review.
The NLC, which has always led the protests against arbitrary fuel price increases, further described the development as tantamount to an act of betrayal by the federal government.
It said this is because, during negotiations for wage increase, the government had agreed not to tamper with the price of petrol if Labour would come down on its demand.
The spokesman of the NLC, Mr Benson Upah, in an interview with Weekend Trust, explained that the NLC was betrayed by the current increase in the pump price of petroleum products because the president called for negotiations when their demand got stuck at N62,000.
“He made two offers which were to agree on the N250,000 we recommended while the price of PMS will rise to N1,500 to N2,000 or he will pay N62,000 and the status quo remains,” he said.
Upah explained further: “He told us we had a few hours to consult. The Labour leaders did not take the bait, rather, we asked to be given more time and later requested for at least one week to consult outside the Villa.
“At the end of that one week, the Presidency met again, and the Labour leaders, who are forthright, unambiguously said we would not accept the offer of N250,000.
“They rejected that and this was out of consideration for the well-being of the average Nigerian because we looked and said what would be the effect of this on the ordinary person.
“To keep this brief, the president acted in breach of his promise to Labour leaders and he knows the truth.”
Special Assistant to the President on Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, however, countered Labour saying that was not the true representation of what transpired.
“I sat through the two meetings President Tinubu had with Labour leaders on minimum wage. At neither of the meetings was an offer made in exchange of fuel price hike. Ajaero is once again playing his dirty politics with the emotions of Nigerians,” he said.
(Daily Trust)
