Labour Rise In Anger Over Petrol, Electricity Price Hike |The Source

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Trade Union Congress has issued the Buhari administration a yellow card over the recent increase in electricity tariff and pump price of petrol.

The administration has insisted that it could no longer afford the subsidy on the essential commodity, thus raising the price of petrol to as much as N160 per litre.

The federal government had earlier increased electricity tariff, a critical decision it said was imperative to draw investment into the energy sector.

But labour union in the country will not have any of that because of the negative impacts such will have on Nigerians.

Therefore, the TUC yesterday issued a warning to the government to revert the increases within seven days or face a mass action from Nigerian workers.

The union said they are prepared to abandon their work apart from staging a mass action to the massive protests across the country in case the government sticks to its decision.

According to a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari with the heading, ‘We cannot bear the burden any longer, issuance of seven days ultimatum’, and signed by TUC President and Secretary-General, Quadri Olaleye and Musa Lawal, TUC their action was aimed aimed at “bringing the President up to speed on some critical national developments that are impacting the mass of the people negatively.”

The union said the government must meet their demands or face the wrath of the angry Nigerian workers.

“These demands are made in good faith, and to save the dying masses and the vulnerable in our society. In the event of not showing empathy for this class of people by adhering to above demands, we shall, together with our civil societies and allies sympathetic to the suffering masses of our people commence an indefinite industrial action and national protest from Wednesday 23rd September 2020,” TUC said.

The Union said in the letter “We bring you warm greetings from the National Executive Council of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), and write this letter to draw your Excellency’s attention once again to earlier communication on the following SALIENT issues.

“We have observed the gradual and steady annihilation of Nigeria and Nigerians in the light of government actions for the umpteenth time. Some of the issues that have become worrisome to the working class, their families and the masses include:

“Sudden increase in petroleum Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) products pump price without any definitive and concrete efforts to make our refineries functional, which has a devastating multiplier effect on the working people and their families.

“Increase in electricity TARIFFS without proper consultation and consideration of the effect of COVID-19, commensurate electricity supply, non-provision of prepaid meters and other biting economic realities.

“Non implementation of the negotiated National Minimum Wage by most of the state governments, and federal government’s inability to create and sustain salary date and calendar to ensure transparency.

“Corruption in government agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health over failure to explain and lack of transparency on how funds received in the fight against COVID-19 was spent among others.

“Loss of jobs across the industries, high cost of living and businesses not moving in the light of the effects of Covid-19.

“Palliative that never got to those that needed them etc.”

Other trade unions in the country such as the NLC, ASUU and others are currently mobilising their members for a total showdown with the government over the issue.

Meanwhile, the federal government has arranged a meeting with TUC and other trade unions for today in Abuja, to iron out their grievances.

It’s unlikely that the parties will reach a truce as the Buhari administration has said there’s no going back on the recent increases for the essential commodities, the sore point in the labour agitation.