Petrol price hike: no dialogue with government,says NLC PRESS STATEMENT  05-1-12

The attention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been drawn to stories planted on the internet today that the leadership of the Labour Movement was meeting with some government officials on issue of increase in fuel prices. 

This is an absolute falsehood.  Labour leaders are busy mobilising for the  indefinite strike action and mass protests which commence from Monday 9th January 2012, and have no time for frivolous, unsustainable and unproductive ‘dialogue’ with the Presidency or any of its  Dialogue Committees.  

We see these stories of “meetings” with the Federal Government as mischievous and part of government’s strategy to break the fuel  hike protest.   

We restate categorically that the Labour Movement has no intention to hold any discussion with the Federal Government or any of its officials on the issue of increases in petrol prices until the price is reverted to N65 per litre to allow for a level playing field. 

We call on workers and the Nigerian people to ignore all such stories and remain focused and committed to participate actively in the general strikes, mass rallies and street protests starting from Monday 9th January, 2012. 

Alleged Marketers Funding of Protests

Our attention has also been drawn to reports in the media that same oil marketers were funding the general strike and mass  protests against the excessive increase in petrol prices.  These reports which are planted in the media by the Presidency are a desperate ploy to divert attention from the mass protests.

We wish to state categorically that no oil marketer or any individual can fund a protest of the working people.  The negative impact of the increase in petrol prices is there to see; astronomical rise in the cost of transportation, school fees, medical bills, food and services.  The Nigerian people, unlike those in government are independent minded and cannot be bought by any group be they marketers, the IMF or World Bank.

The NLC advises the Jonathan administration to wake up to the reality that Nigerians are resolved to resist its punitive policies and are determined to reclaim their country from those who are intent on bringing it down. 

The Presidency’s Buses

The Presidency yesterday announced that it is importing 1,600 buses to cushion the effects of its inhuman hike in the price of petrol.  First, we think it is a false claim as the buses in question refer to those being imported by Trade Union Congress (TUC). 

Secondly, the announcement is laughable because if divided by the 774 Local Governments in the country, it amounts to 2 buses per Local Government.  Thirdly, one would have thought that the Presidency would put these “cushioning effects” in place before the unreasonable hike in petrol price.

Owei Lakemfa,

Acting General Secretary.