By Ayodele Oni
The Nigeria Labour Congres (NLC) rose from its National Executive Committee(NEC) meeting on Thursday with a call on the Federal Government for a review of the power sector privatization programme.
According to the NLC, this it been long overdue for review since the law provides for a review of the privatization program every two years.
The NEC, also, advocated for the reduction of the cost of gas to 1.5 cents and the scrapping of the use of US and Nigeria inflation rates to determine the cost of gas to power distribution companies, GENCOs.
These were contained in a communique signed by Ayuba Wabba,
President; and Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary issued at the end of its NEC meeting, in Abuja.
The NEC also called on the Government to step up on the mass distribution of meters to electricity consumers all over Nigeria.
In order to ensure strict follow up and compliance, the NLC NEC recommended the setting up of an oversight taskforce outside the purview of NERC and DISCO.
Other decisions by the NLC were “NEC resolved to reject deregulation as long as it is import driven. NEC reiterated the traditional position of Congress that government should rehabilitate and revamp Nigeria’s local refineries as a sustainable solution to incessant increases in the pump price of petrol.
“The NEC posited that Nigeria’s refineries can be made to work in a short time once government asserts the political will to do so.
“NEC also urged the Nigerian government to find ways and means to shield Nigerian citizens from the volatilities in the international crude oil market.
“It demanded that the template used in determining the pump price of PMS which includes inbuilt charges and inflationary trend should be reviewed to the benefit of Nigerians. NEC called for modular refineries in order to bring down the price of diesel;
“The NEC rejected the concession of Nigeria’s airports and other considerations for privatization describing such as great disservice to the Nigerian people and a betrayal of the efforts of Nigerian workers especially those employed in the aviation sector;
“The NEC warned that it would take very drastic action against state governments that have refused to pay the new national minimum wage and minimum pension which benefit had already been eroded by the escalating inflation in the country.
“NEC also resolved to view the refusal to pay the new national minimum wage by state governments as demanded by the law as an act of criminality, betrayal of the oath of office sworn by state chief executives and a dangerous adventure in anarchy.
“The NEC-in-Session directed all states where the national minimum wage of N30000 is yet to be paid to immediately proceed on industrial action.”
